US jobs news boosts markets

Global markets were down yesterday as profit-taking drove most back from yesterday’s gains following on from the fiscal cliff deal, but more good news on the US jobs front trimmed back the losses and kept most markets ahead of the curve.

The Iseq index followed this trend, closing up a further 22.21 points to finish the day on 3,478.41.

Irish construction stocks slipped back after yesterday’s positivity. CRH gave up 23c to close on €15.85, while Grafton Group shifted 2c to close on €4.09. Kingspan bucked the trend by gaining 6.6c to finish on €8.364.

Elsewhere positive vibes kept prices in the more established Irish companies up, with gains for Paddy Power rising 30c to €63.50, Smurfit Kappa Group up 7c to €9.18, Ryanair gaining 13.2c to €4.758, and C&C up 4c to €4.63.