Market up as euro strengthens

THE ISEQ improved a further 14.23 points yesterday to end the session at 2,937.29.

The euro and commodity currencies moved higher, as a strong set of corporate earnings in the US encouraged investors to buy equities amid rising growth expectations. In the financial sector, Bank of Ireland shares fell 1c to 24.6c. AIB improved 0.5c to 21.8c. Irish Life & Permanent gave up 0.4c to 15.1c, while insurance company FBD Holdings weakened 6c to 7.34.

In the construction sector, CRH progressed 29.5c to €15.83. Grafton Group tacked on 3c to €3.48, while Kingspan followed suit with an increase of 3.5c to €6.58.