Market makes moderate gain

THE ISEQ index added a small gain of 6.67 to close at 2,971.96 yesterday.

In the US, the unemployment rate unexpectedly jumped to 10.2% in October, the first time in 26 years that unemployment has surpassed 10%. A Labour Department report showed that employers cut 190,000 jobs last month, more than the 175,000 that markets had expected. However, the pace of layoffs has slowed sharply from early this year.

In the financial sector, AIB progressed 16c to €1.92, Bank of Ireland gained 8c to €1.99, Irish Life & Permanent added 15c to €4.90 while FBD rose 27c to €6.67.