Shares slide as investors sit tight

Shares in Dublin slipped a fraction, mirroring the rest of the eurozone, as an expected holding of rates by the ECB and Bank of England caused investors to sit back and plan their next move.

The Iseq shed 7.31 points to close on 3,496.92.

Irish banks were again in positive territory with the exception of AIB, which shed 0.1c to close on 5.2c. Bank of Ireland’s good run continued, gaining 0.4c in large trading volumes to close on 13.9c, while Permanent TSB Group Holdings added 0.5c to 3.5c and were the exchange’s biggest mover. Elsewhere insurer FBD Holdings gained a further 5c to €10.90.

It was a mixed day in the construction sector; Grafton Group’s trading statement of yesterday pushed the stock further ahead by 11.9c to €4.30. While CRH slipped 4.5c to close on €15.05 and Kingspan shed 3.7c to close the day at €8.913.