Irish market bucks downward trend

The ISEQ Index rose over 0.5% today bucking negative trends in international markets.

Shares in Dunloe were up three cents to 48 cents on rumours of a take-over offer from Liam Carroll.

Good gains were also made in CRH, Elan, IAWS and Ryanair.

Despite a positive opening, stocks on Wall Street traded in the red at lunchtime.

Some downgrades in the tech sector cut 0.25% off the Nasdaq, while the broader S&P 500 was down 0.66%.

European markets fell modestly down 0.5% on average and BNP Paribas fell 8% after taking a 10.9% stake in Credit Lyonnaise, France's fourth largest bank, for €2.2bn.

On the foreign exchange, one euro will buy 1.74 Australian dollars or 97.9 US cent.