Market in nominal gain

THE ISEQ index finished up 25.22 points yesterday at 2,109.93 in line with world markets as European government debt decreased and also prompted by a significant increase of 22.2% in US housing starts for February.

The financial stocks had a lethargic day overall. AIB dipped 3c to 52c, Bank of Ireland added 3.5c to 35.5c, Irish Life and Permanent slid 3c to 75c, while insurance group FBD fell back 16c to e6.09.

In construction, CRH increased 35c to e15.95, Grafton Group weakened 5c to e1.58 and Kingspan dropped 20c to e2.65.