ISEQ records a slight gain

The ISEQ in Dublin recorded a slight gain rising 9.74 points to 4629.9 just before 3pm today.

IAWS climbed €0.08 to €9.40 after news that it had placed a bid for Hibernia foods last week. Meanwhile, Kerry group, who also placed a bid, fell €0.25 to €14.85.

Ryanair continued this morning's upward trend and rose €0.21 to €6.50. Other movers include First Active, down €0.19 to €5.95, despite stressing that a merger with Royal Bank of Scotland is not at risk, as indicated in a Sunday Times article yesterday.

United Drug fell €0.03 to €2.35 as profit takers responded to speculation that the company will report full year profit growth of more than 20% tomorrow, following a series of acquisitions in the past year.

In London the FTSE-100 was up 42.1 points to 4361.1 and the Paris CAC ahead by just under 1%, while Frankfurt was up nearly 2% this afternoon.

The States also rallied due to the strength of the dollar and busy trade prior to the Thanksgiving holiday this Thursday.

The Dow Jones opened 52 points stronger at 9680. The Nasdaq gained 19 points to 1913 and the S&P index rose 8 to 1043.