Market flat on slow day’s trade

THE Irish market gained 1.11 points yesterday to 2648.51. Latest figures from the Central Bank reveal the pace of the decline in lending to the non-financial business sector and to households increased again in September.

Lending to the non-financial corporate sector declined 3% in the year ending September 2010, following an annual decline of 2.2% in August.

In the financial sector, AIB fell 0.5c to 33.7c. Bank of Ireland shed 0.9c to 53.3c. Irish Life & Permanent fell 1.9c to €1.52, while insurance group FBD Holdings slid 4.9c to €6.13. In the construction sector, CRH decreased 14.5c to €12.30. Kingspan added 0.6c to €6, while Grafton Group tacked on 1.8c to €3.06.