Rising share prices pave the way for bailout exit

Irish stocks are climbing three times faster than equities in Spain, Italy, Greece and Portugal as the nation looks to become the first country to exit a EU-led bailout.

Ireland’s Iseq Index has more than doubled from a 13-year low in Mar 2009 as Smurfit Kappa Group led gains with a jump of 889%, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

Companies in the gauge are forecast to post the biggest profits since 2008.