Shares fluctuate in brisk trading

SHARES on the Irish market wavered in and out of positive territory throughout trading yesterday.

Increased speculation around a requirement for the Government to recapitalise the banks dragged that sector lower and as a result pulled the market down 4.22 points to finish at 3,025.24.

Anglo-Irish and Irish Life and Permanent slipped 37c and 34.8c to 2.13 and €2.35. Bank of Ireland gave up 20c to €2.10, while AIB shed 1c to €4.20.

The construction sector had a good day, CRH added 19c to €17.49, while Grafton Group and Kingspan tacked on 15c and 25c to €2.48 and €4.75.

Elsewhere, Ryanair Holdings tacked on 8c to close at €2.83. This despite the company announcing a 47% drop in profits for the six months to the end of September.