ISEQ up as European concerns ease

THE ISEQ index gained a further 35.24 points to close at 2,697.11, in line with European and world bourses.

The rebound by stocks was partly due to easing concerns about the financial situation in Europe. In the financial sector, Bank of Ireland said in an interim management statement yesterday that it is on course with its programme of disposing of non-core assets but that lower interest rates are making it hard to recover increasing costs. Shares added 0.1c to 8.7c. AIB advanced 0.2c to 8.2c. Irish Life & Permanent dropped 0.1c to 3.1c, while insurance group FBD Holdings slipped 30c to 6.20. In the construction sector, shares in CRH increased 49.5c to 13.545.