Dublin market wrap: CRH up on good news from US

Building group CRH saw it share price rise 15c on Dublin trading today to €15.75 after more positive construction data from the United States.

The company which has extensive interests across the Atlantic was heartened by news that construction spending reached a record level of $910bn. (€791bn) in the month of September. Further good news saw highway construction - a key CRH market - rise also.

Financials rose also with AIB up 5c to €12.45. Earlier the bank had announced that it was to sell the management contracts of Govett, its British asset management business, to Gartmore Investment Management for approximately €20m.

Bank of Ireland fell 5c to €10.65 while First Active was up 2c to €6.15.

BOI announced today that it had appointed Richie Boucher chief executive officer (designate) of corporate banking.

Earlier it was confirmed that First Active chief executive Cormac McCarthy would become chief executive of the enlarged Ulster Bank Group.

First Active will delist from the Irish Stock Exchange on January 2 2004 as part of its takeover by Royal Bank of Scotland (RBOS).