Market makes modest advance

THE ISEQ index started the week with a modest gain of 36.59 points to 2,441.33.

Monetary policy officials in Europe have already begun discussing the next steps they will take to quell the eurozone sovereign debt crisis. The talks come as policymakers work to finalise the European Financial Stability Fund, an ECB official said.

In the US, new single-family house sales decreased in August to a six-month low, while the supply of houses available on the market dropped to a record low.

In the financial sector, Bank of Ireland was unchanged at 7.3c. AIB fell 0.3c to 4c. Irish Life & Permanent fell 1.1c to 2.6c, while insurance group FBD Holdings gained 5c to €6.40.

In the construction sector, shares in CRH gained 33c to €11. Grafton added 2.5c to €2.62. Kingspan weakened 4c to €5.90, while Abbey Group was unchanged at €5.20.