Market makes slight advance

THE ISEQ index had a positive start to the week with a gain of 7.03 points to 2,669.06.

The Central Bank has revised downwards its forecasts for the economy this year, predicting GNP to fall by around 1.7% while GDP will just barely break in to growth at 0.2%, it says.

In the financial sector, AIB dipped 0.4c to 47c. Bank of Ireland gained 1.8c to 65.5c. Irish Life & Permanent Group shed 1.7c to €1.39, while FBD Holdings slipped 10c to €6.40.