ISEQ closes down eight points

The ISEQ in Dublin closed down eight points to 5,208 at 5.30pm following a downward trend on markets worldwide as the US released weak job data which fell short of analysts expectations.

Gresham rebounded 12 cent to €1.22, with half a million shares traded, after reassuring investors that talks on a takeover offer were continuing.

The share had reached €1.28 earlier in the session. In an announcement to the Irish Stock Exchange yesterday evening Gresham said talks with a consortium of investors on a possible offer for the company are still going on and that there was no change to last month's revised approach of €1.45 per share, despite widespread speculation.

MBO target Barlo closed down 1c to €0.42. It emerged today that Dermot Desmond had increased his stake to 14.24%.

Fyffes continued to bask in this weeks results which showed pre-tax profits leaped 14%. The fruit distributor closed up 4c to €1.62.

The banks were mixed with a late sell off dragging some of them down. AIB closed up 3c to €12.22 with 3.8m shares traded and BOI was 9c lighter at €10.56.

Irish L&P was a faller, down 15c to €13.40 and Anglo increased 5c to €14.20.

Waterford Wedgewood was busy today. closing up 1c to €27 and recruitment company CPL moved up 5c to €0.95 on fairly low volume.