Strong close follows a shaky start

THE ISEQ index of shares closed up 90.80 points at 2,770.17 after a shaky start in the morning primarily caused by a sharp fall in Elan, which reported a third case of the brain disease progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) in a patient taking its multiple scelroris drug Tysabri since the drug’s return to the market in 2006.

The stock closed down 93c at €4.92.

Shares in AIB closed up 30c at €3.65, Bank of Ireland gained 5c to €1.63, Anglo Irish Bank jumped 29c to €1.99, while Irish Life & Permanent finished up 5c at €2.15.