Early election could delay sale of €3bn of AIB shares

An early sale of shares worth up to €3bn in Government-owned AIB could be delayed amid calls for Taoiseach Enda Kenny to step down.

Darren McKinley at Merrion Capital said that an early election could disrupt indicative plans for the Government to sell an initial 25% of AIB by May or June because the timing was no longer “ideal” as the political controversy of the past week has brought an election nearer.

There was an appetite for Irish stocks though the political uncertainty surrounding the outcome of elections on the continent also has in recent weeks led to some investor jitters.