Market falls as banking stocks sold

THE Irish market lost some of Thursday’s gains yesterday as investors sold banking stocks after news that the final two bidders for EBS have been confirmed and Bank of Ireland sold its asset management unit. The ISEQ index ended the day down 28.65 at 2,719.65.

In the financial sector, the Government confirmed that the bidding for the EBS has been narrowed down to two – the Cardinal consortium of investors and Irish Life and Permanent. The former closed down 5.5c at €1.59.

Elsewhere, AIB dipped 0.5c to 39c. Bank of Ireland dropped 1.2c to 60.3c, while insurance group FBD Holdings weakened 18.9c to €6.21.