Banking shares boost to market

THE ISEQ index closed up 91.82 points at 2,285.77 yesterday as the main banking shares jumped significantly on renewed hopes that next week’s budget will draw a line under the uncertainty surrounding banks’ capital bases.

In the financial sector, AIB jumped 12c to 72c, Bank of Ireland increased 6c to 58c, Irish Life and Permanent soared 21c to e1.31, while insurance group FBD progressed 16c to €6.17.

In construction, CRH leapt e1.17 to €17.39, Grafton Group was unchanged at e1.70, while Kingspan Group moved up 2c to e2.77.

Ryanair added 5c to e2.95 while C&C continued its recent good run adding a further 2c to €1.32.