Market’s positive mood continues

THE ISEQ continued its positive run, to close up 14.88 points at 2,921.55, in line with European and world bourses. US retail sales fell in May for the first time in 11 months, but the decline was less than expected.

China’s inflation rate hit its highest level in 3 years in May, while British inflation remained at a 2½-year high.

Greece's long-term sovereign credit rating was downgraded from B to CCC by Standard and Poors, and is now their lowest-rated country in the world.

In the financial sector, Bank of Ireland added 0.9c to 13.1c. AIB dropped 0.2c to 16.7c. Irish Life & Permanent slipped 0.8c to 6.5c, while insurance company FBD Holdings dipped slightly by 0.1c to 7.40.

In the construction sector, CRH was 27.5c better at 14.545, Grafton Group advanced 1.9c to 3.369 and Kingspan decreased 14.4c to 7.105, while Abbey Group lost 5c to 5.05.