Market finishes week with gain

THE ISEQ finished the week with a further gain of 23.72 points to close at 3,013.44. European shares made fresh gains for a seventh straight session, as some analysts said equities would be supported by positive company earnings and steadily improving economic conditions.

In the US, stocks opened a little ahead as positive quarterly results from Caterpillar and Merck looked set to drive the Dow to its best month since December.

In the financial sector, Bank of Ireland gave up 0.4c to 28c. AIB declined 1.1c to 23c. Irish Life & Permanent dropped 0.7c to 15c. Insurance group FBD Holdings improved 7c to 7.25 after it said that operating profits in its insurance underwriting operations are ahead of the previous year and in line with expectations.