Financials lead market fallers

THE IRISH market slipped into negative territory yesterday.

Ryanair was the biggest laggard on the market overall after announcing results. The ISEQ index fell 32.52 points to 2,770.67.

The three main Irish financials were among the stocks in decline, with AIB giving up 0.1c to €1.72. Bank ofIreland and Irish Life and Permanent followed suit, down 2c and 4c to €1.76 and €3.12.

It was a bad day for construction stocks also with CRH shedding 25c to €17.25 as concerns continued over non-residential markets, which make up 40% of group profits. Grafton Group dropped back 6c to 2.92, while Kingspan lost 10c to close at €4.40.

Elsewhere, Ryanair dipped 29c to €3.08 as the company announced fresh results.