Market down ahead of US report

THE ISEQ index closed down 44.66 points at 2,641.48 yesterday as investors worried about a grim pre-weekend US jobs report.

They are also waiting on an interest rate decision from the European Central Bank later this week.

The financial stocks had a mixed day. AIB jumped 14c to €2.16, Bank of Ireland dipped 1c to 94c, Anglo Irish Bank gained 4c to 32c, Irish Life & Permanent progressed a further 21c to €2.68 after announcing that it is seeking to raise at least €1bn in the coming weeks via a benchmark bond issue.