Markets up ahead of ECB decision

After days of steady decline, eurozone markets showed gains yesterday as investors are looking ahead to today’s ECB meeting where a cut in repo rates is expected.

Profits were trimmed back in the afternoon as the US jobs numbers were not as good as expected but still positive.

Shares in Dublin rose for the first time in two weeks as live register figures show a drop in unemployment. The Iseq closed on 4,694.62 points, a gain of 27.69.

Both AIB & Permanent TSB added 0.1c, the former closing on 13c, and the latter on 8.2c, while Bank of Ireland dipped 0.1c to 29.4c. FBD Holdings closed on €17.68, a gain of 3c.

In the construction sector, CRH fell 21c to €18.72, while Kingspan Group was 24c worse off, finishing on €13.80.