Financials help ISEQ close up 14.59

The ISEQ climbed 14.59 to end the day on 5,351.51, with financial stocks helping the positive close.

Allied Irish Bank shares climbed 6c to €12.45 while Bank of Ireland shares rose 8c to €10.76.

Shares in Anglo Irish Bank rose 15c to €13.10 while Irish Life & Permanent shares increased 15c to €12.45.

Shares in pharmaceutical giant Elan closed the day down 4c at €17.75 despite some earlier positive movement.

Elan announced that the US Food and Drug Administration has accepted their licence application for MS drug Antegren. Elan stock surged 39c to €18.18 this morning but fell back later in the day.

Elsewhere Waterford Wedgewood shares slipped 1c to €0.15. Waterford Wedgwood today approved the sale of its US subsidiary All-Clad. The cookware company will be sold to Groupe SEB, for approximately $250m.

Elsewhere energy group Viridian leaped 60c to €9.30. Shares in building group CRH slipped 10c to €18.10 while shares in Abbey fell 15c to €8.30.

Bookmaker Paddy Power is up 5c to €9.80.

The main movers throughout the day were AIB, Anglo, IAWS, Bank of Ireland and CRH.