Market gives up Thursday’s gains

THE ISEQ relinquished much of Thursday's gains closing at 2,701.51.

Bank shares were among the main losers as investors chose to sell off. The euro fell yesterday morning as concerns over Ireland's austerity budget prompted a widening in peripheral eurozone bond spreads, in turn allowing the dollar some relief from a run of heavy losses.

In the financial sector, AIB dropped 3.2c to 26.8c. Bank of Ireland fell 6.3c to 42.5c. Irish Life & Permanent weakened 25.9c to 1.05, while FBD Holdings bucked the trend with a gain of 20c to 6.20.