Markets continue their momentum

Indices across Europe were all in positive territory yesterday as investors continue to return to equity markets with renewed risk appetite due to the strength of markets since the turn of the year. Meanwhile, US markets also opened stronger with the Dow Jones and S&P 500 trading above historically high levels of 14,000 and 1,500. The Iseq index gained 47.63 points to 3,626.45.

Bank stocks were broadly better on the day as UK bank Barclays reported results and outlined a transformation programme to take the bank away from previous practices. Barclays jumped more than 8.5%. In Ireland, AIB finished flat at 6.6c, Bank of Ireland moved on 0.2c to 13.4c while Permanent TSB Group gained 3c to 3.8c.