Financials and pharmaceuticals boost ISEQ

Dublin's ISEQ index closed up 20 points to 5,326 today with gains in the financial and pharmaceutical sectors outweighing losses from Ryanair and Jurys.

In a busy day for finacials, Anglo Irish Bank increased its price by 21 points to €13.07, with Irish Life and Permanent not far behind at €12.85 after a 18-point rise. Bank of Ireland remained unchanged at €10.60 while AIB closed down by a point at €12.19.

The pharmaceuticals also saw big rises in their stock prices with both Elan and Galen going up by 30 points to €19.50 and €10.68 respectively. It comes just over a week ahead of Elan's AGM in Dublin.

Despite reaching the 45 million mark in terms of passengers carried ato and from Ireland, Ryanair saw their stock fall 19c to €4.50.

Other stocks to gain were Insurance group FBD Holdings who floated up by 15 points to €14.70, food company Glanbia, up 11 to €2.36 and Business support group DCC, who increased their value by 17 points to rise to €13.57.

Jury's hotel were 14c worse off at €9.96 while Gresham stayed at €1.28.

In London, a fifth consecutive session of gains helped the FTSE 100 Index close at its highest level in a month today.

During a quiet trading session, the Footsie broke through the 4500 barrier to end the day 13.2 points higher at 4504.8.

In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng is up 17 points to 12,344.16