ISEQ climbs 16 on mixed day for financials

The ISEQ index of Irish shares closed up 16.69 to end the day at 5,257.84 today.

It was a mixed day for the financials on the ISEQ. Bank of Ireland enjoyed a productive day to end up 16c at €10.49, but Allied Irish Bank was unchanged at €12.10.

The bank announced earlier in the day it had sold more than 95,000 shares in Iona, and in morning trading slipped 10c, but recovered to end the day unchanged.

Meanwhile Anglo Irish Bank rose 14c to €12.79 while Irish Life & Permanent slipped 8c to €12.47.

Meanwhile building material group CRH climbed 4c today to end on €17.04.

Earlier it was revealed CRH bought of a 49% stake in Secil, a Portuguese manufacturer of cement and ready-mixed concrete for €333m.

Elan was another share to continue recent gains. Shares in the pharmaceutical rose 28c to €19.23.