Market ends week in the black

THE ISEQ index ended the week on a high note at 2,985.84, up 48.07 points.

In the financial sector, Irish Life & Permanent shares added 0.3c to 90.3c. The country’s biggest mortgage lender, confirmed yesterday morning it is to lay off 280 staff, redeploy another 100 and raise its variable mortgage rate by 1pc. AIB gained 0.9c to 25.3. Bank of Ireland improved 2c to 38.4c. while FBD Holdings jumped 19.2c to €6.95.

In the construction sector, CRH increased 28c to €16.50. Grafton Group progressed 2.7c to €3.50, while Kingspan gained 6.9c to €6.67.

In other news, Aer Lingus announced that it has reached a successful conclusion to its industrial dispute with IMPACT cabin crew union on the full implementation of the Greenfield plan including changes in rosters to deliver 850 annual flying hours. The shares closed up 2.4c at €1.05.