World stocks decline on US worries

World stocks and the euro moved lower yesterday following comments from the US Senate majority leader Democrat Harry Reid that the economy may be poised to go off the “fiscal cliff”.

It was a relatively quiet day on the Irish Stock Exchange, when the Anglesea Street bourse reopened following the Christmas break. Irish shares started the week in positiveterritory. The Iseq closed at 3,376.34, up 2.68 points. Smurfit Kappa Group plc, the most traded stock on the exchange yesterday with 1,661,142 shares changing hands in 1,688 deals, closed down less than 1%.

Transport stock Irish Continental and Ryanair also closed lower. Exploration stock Aminex closed well up, with Kenmare and Ormonde all in the green.