ISEQ down as financials slip

The Dublin ISEQ was down 8 points to 5,270 just after 10.30 this morning, with the financials lagging behind.

The banks slipped from their two-day climb. AIB was down 15c to €13.75 and BOI fell 7c to €11.73.

Anglo traded up, however, as investors looked forward to an update statement due next week. The bank closed up 14c to €13.54.

Some food stocks were down. Glanbia fell 4c to €2.22 and Greencore was down 3c to €3.37.

Earlier in the week, Kerry group and Glanbia both got broker downgrades on potential export losses stemming from the weak dollar.

Movers today included E-learning company Thirdforce, which leaped 13c to €0.40.

Gresham gained 5c to €1.10 ahead of the expiry later today of a Takeover Panel deadline for a consortium of investors to make a bid for the company.

Building stocks fared well . Abbey was 20c stronger at €8.20 and McInerney was up 8c to €5.20.

Heiton continued its rise after reporting strong results earlier in the week. The building group rose 6c to €4.55.

In London, the FTSE was up 0.4%, with retailer Boots ahead by 4% after reporting healthy Christmas sales.

On the currency markets, the euro fell back against the dollar and sterling this morning at $1.249 and £0.689.