ISEQ closes up 27 points

The ISEQ closed up for the third session running this evening at 4,851, up 27 points or 0.57%.

The financials were mainly up following busy trading.

Anglo fell €0.10 to €12.70 but Bank of Ireland was up €0.13 to €10.68 following over two million shares changing hands.

Irish Life & Permanent fell €0.05 to €12.40, losing recent gains made on the back of its positive trading statement this week as profit takers sold off.

AIB was up €0.05 to €12.40 on a bulky 2.4 million volume and First Active was steady at €6.17.

There were movers in the construction sector encouraged after the ESRI this morning said that fears

of an imminent collapse in property prices are unfounded.

CRH closed up €0.35 to €16.10 and McInerney was up €0.13 to €4.60.

Elan was the winner of the drug stocks. The stock rose €0.20 to €5.25. Northern Chemist group Unidare was €0.05 lighter at €1.25.

Independent N&M closed up €0.01 to €1.86, down on earlier gains. Dr Brian Hillery, currently chairman of UniCredito Italiano Bank and chairman of Providence Resources, has been appointed to the board of the group as non-executive director.

IWP was steady at €0.28 ,regaining on early losses after a warning on future profits today.

Ryanair recovered slightly from losses during the day following its failed French court appeal. The stock was down €0.03 to €6.60.

In London shares closed in positive territory, buoyed by a rise in oil shares and a positive start on Wall Street.

The blue chip FTSE -100 closed up 0.34% to 4,412 this evening.