Markets gain across eurozone

THE Irish market closed higher yesterday in line with markets in the eurozone which reopened after the weekend in positive territory.

By the close, the ISEQ index had gained 24.58 points to finish at 2,898.18.

Irish financials put in a mixed performance as market leader AIB, moved on 1.4c to €1. Bank of Ireland and Irish Life lagged behind, the former giving up 2.3c to 97.7c with the latter also slipping 3c to €2.72.

In construction, market heavyweight CRH managed to gain territory by adding 15.6c to €16.88. The real star of the show however was Kingspan, whose share price rose 10% or 55c to €5.55 as the company revealed during its results announcement it saw tangible evidence of stability beginning to return. Grafton Group on the other hand dropped 5c to €2.45.

Elsewhere, food producer Kerry Group tacked on 50c to €23.75.