Market static on quiet day’s trading

THE Irish index closed down 1.51 points yesterday at 2,344.82 on the last full day of trading for the ISEQ in 2008. Trading volumes were light.

The main news of the day was that oil fell below $40 a barrel pressured by gloom about prospects for world economic growth which outweighed increased tensions in the Middle East due to the Israeli-Hamas conflict.

The financials had a pretty quiet day. AIB progressed 3c to €1.68, Bank of Ireland shed 2c to 85c, Anglo Irish Bank gained 3c to 20c while Irish Life & Permanent moved up 3c to €1.60.