Market bounces back to black

The Iseq Index returned to positive territory yesterday after several days in the red as markets reacted nervously ahead of this weekend’s crucial Greek elections.

The benchmark index of Irish shares jumped 63.1 points to end the week at 3,069.6.

Financial stocks advanced overall. AIB was 0.5c higher at 6.8c, while Bank of Ireland was also a riser, up 0.2c to 9.4c. Permanent TSB Group was unchanged at 2.7c, while insurance group FBD holdings bucked the positive trend, dipping 1.8c to €8.12.

In construction, CRH recouped the previous days’ losses, climbing 46.5c to €14.11. Grafton Group remained at €2.75, while Kingspan saw a rise of 5c to €6.60.

Elsewhere, paper and packaging company Smurfit Kappa Group gained 4.7c to close at €5.20.