European markets volatile

European markets were mixed yesterday as bourses around the globe are expected to continue to be delicately poised in advance of central bank and macro data announcements later this week.

A further reduction in Eurozone base interest rates is being mooted ahead of an ECB meeting this week.

Commentary on the US stimulus package Operation Twist is also likely to result from this week Federal Reservemeeting. US non-farm payrolls, a keenly watched indicator of the state of the US economy, are also due tomorrow. As a result of all this, the ISEQ index was off 25.77 points at 3,143.48.

Similar to the market overall, financial stocks were also mixed. AIB remained steady, closing unchanged at 5c. Bank of Ireland was a laggard, shedding 0.1c to finish at 10c while Permanent TSB Group gained 0.6c to 2.9c.