Market advances after two-day dip

The Iseq advanced 44.61 points yesterday, to close at 4,282.89, after a two-day decline.

Investors were cheered by the latest consumer sentiment index, which rose to a six-year high in September, and by an announcement that the NTMA has cancelled all auctions of State debt until after Christmas because of the country’s strong funding position.

In the financial sector, both Bank of Ireland and Permanent TSB improved, the former adding 0.2c to 21.2, while the latter gained 0.2c to 4c. AIB fell 0.2c to 8.3c and insurance group FBD lost 20c to €14.70.