Market ends in negative territory

Markets were mixed worldwide as negotiations to avert the US fiscal cliff continued.

Irish shares finished the week in negative territory overall with the Iseq Index shedding a further 8 points to 3388.4.

In the financial sector, AIB declined by 0.1c to 5c, Bank of Ireland added 0.1c to 11.5c while Permanent TSB Group Holdings remained unchanged at 2.1c. Meanwhile, insurer FBD Holdings lost 2.5c to 10.75.

The construction stocks were mainly ahead with the exception of Grafton Group which fell by 4c to 3.75. CRH climbed 14.5c to 15.32 while Kingspan was up 21.7c to 8.17.

Elsewhere, bookmaker Paddy Power lost 50c to 62.60.It was announced that William Hill has reached agreement with GVC and Sportingbet to acquire Sportingbet’s Australian business and certain other assets.