ISEQ records small fall

The ISEQ index of Irish shares recorded a small fall in morning trading today, dropping 10.12 points to 5530.5.

Shares in Horizon Technology Group were up two cent to €1.05 after the company announced turnover growth of 17.3% in its interim results for the six months to 30 June 2004.

First-half operating profit increased 31.6% year-on-year to €3.3m, representing the fifth consecutive increase in half-yearly operating profit.

Horizon said the increase was driven by market share gains in the UK and Ireland.

Fyffes shares are remaining level so far today, at €1.84, after the fruit distribution company announced a 44.2% increase in pre-tax profits for the six months to the end of June.

Profit was up from €42m in the same period last year to €60.6m this year.

Profits are on the up also at financial services group IFG, which today reported profits before tax of €2.59m, up from €1.154m for the same period - the six months to the end of June - last year.