Market consolidates recent lift

The Iseq gained 60.74 points yesterday to close at 4024.07.

Other European markets rose ahead of key economic data from the US. US manufacturing expanded in June, rebounding from an unexpected contraction in May, but hiring in the sector was the weakest in nearly four years.

At home, retail sales in May posted their second consecutive monthly increase, suggesting that consumer spending is recovering in the second quarter.

In the financial sector AIB lost 0.4c to 5.7c, Bank of Ireland gained 0.3c to 16c, while Permanent TSB was unchanged at 2.6c. Insurer FBD Holdings added 30c to finish on €14.85.

It was another mixed day in the construction sector, Grafton Group dropped 1.4c to €5.35, Kingspan added 27c to €10.50, while CRH advanced 30.5c to close at €15.85.