Market treads water on quiet day

THE Irish market barely managed to claw its way out of negative numbers in afternoon trading yesterday.

Weak trading volumes signified investors’ lack of enthusiasm. The ISEQ index added 2.51 to 2,420.99.

Bank stocks failed to make any inroad in the losses sustained earlier in the week with AIB slipping 0.5c to close at 85.4c, while Bank of Ireland gave up 1c to 66c. Irish Life and Permanent closed at €1.69 for a loss of 16c.