ISEQ slim fall after six days upward trend

In Dublin the ISEQ index of shares closed 4.37 points lighter to 4,716 with a slim fall of 09%, after closing in positive territory for six days in a row.

Financials were mainly down, though the two leading banks closed higher, Bank of Ireland gained €0.04 to €10.30, and AIB added €0.25 to €12.35.

Anglo took a breather from yesterdays gains after Wednesday's impressive results and slid €0.30 to €11.30.

First Active was €0.01 down to €6.14 and Irish L&P fell €0.25 to €11.75.

Gainers included DCC, up €0.17 to €10.95, after it spent more than €17m yesterday buying 1.6m shares of its own stock and F.B.D Holdings continued its upward trend trading up €0.50 to €12.70.

Independent News & Media continued this mornings gains, up €0.07 on the day to €2.02.

Waterford Wedgwood, although closing unchanged at €0.28, was the market's biggest volume mover, with nearly 18 million shares traded after it completed a €166m bond issue.

In London the FTSE 100 was 18.5 points lighter at 4,342.9 this evening with a slump in the value of the dollar against sterling and the euro hitting stocks with exposure to the US market.

Manchester United saw a 6% rise in share price after Commerzbank confirmed it had bought a stake in the Premier League club, fueling takeover speculation.