Market gains but financials slip

The ISEQ Index climbed higher yesterday despite opening in negative territory on a day which saw a number of key listed companies announcing earnings results.

The exchange finished 24.02 points ahead to 3,732.79 on the day.

Financial stocks were in decline overall with Bank of Ireland losing 0.2c to 13.5c and AIB down 0.1c to 6.4c. Permanent TSB Group bucked the trend however gaining 0.4c to 3.7c. Insurer FBD Holdings shed 16c to €12.20.

In construction, CRH reported financial year 2012 EBITDA of €1.64bn which was ahead of consensus with the US sector outperforming Europe overall. Shares in the company climbed 46c to €16.67. Meanwhile, Kingspan fell 12.6c to €8.59 with Grafton Group losing up 5c to €4.75.