ISEQ closes up 89.65

The ISEQ index finished up 89.65 points to close at 5189.35 on Thursday

Bank of Ireland saw its share price up 16c to €10.46 after a positive pre-trading statement today ahead of full-year results on May 13.

Chief executive Michael Soden said all divisions had performed well and that it expected to post its 13th consecutive year of profit growth.

Income growth is expected to be 2% ahead of cost growth.

AIB were up 13c to €12.08 while Anglo Irish were up 32c to €12.82.

Travel software firm Datalex closed down 1c to 61c despite the news that it had won a major contract with Japanese travel giant JTB Corp.

Analysts believe that Datalex should be able to secure additional contracts in the Japanese region given high profile nature of the award.

The company's BookIt! Suite of software has been selected to complement the wide range of pre-packaged and escorted tour programs offered by JTB.

Ryanair sought guarantees from SIPTU that they would not "hold the country to ransom" through strike action again.

The low fares carrier said it would pursue the trade union all the way to the High Court unless it received such assurances.

Ryanair finished up 14c to €4.54 as airlines throughout Europe released figures that indicated a tough 2003.

The Irish Nationwide Building Society reported pre-tax profits to €117m in 2003.

Record increases in house-building is helping to power the home loans and mortgages market which is proving good news for the group.

The building society said it advanced €1.791bn during 2003 compared to €1.042 billion in 2002, an increase of 72%.

Managing Director Michael Fingleton also predicted a 'turf war' in the deposit market as institutions build up their deposit base.

Pharmaceutical company Galen has agreed to buy the right to sell its oral contraceptive Loestrin in the US and Canada.