Dublin shares show slight fall

The ISEQ Index of Irish shares recovered slightly on morning trading to record a fall of 4.46 points and end the day at 5,594.01.

Shares in builders Grafton Group fell by 12 cent to €7.23, despite the announcement of record sales and profits at the company.

Before-tax profits were up 30% across the Group to €69.9m. The figure was €53.4m in 2003.

Earnings per share before goodwill and property profit increased by 25% to 24.63 cent (2003: 19.63 cent).

Grafton weren't the biggest faller of the day, Warner Chilcott recorded a 16 cent fall to finish at €9.02, whilst shipping group Irish Continental fell 15c to €9.60.

Three firms recording 10c decreases were FBD Holdings (€16.50), Jury's Hotel Group (€10.15) and Unidare (€1.85).

The biggest risers for the day were Donegal Creameries and Iona Technologies who both went up 15 cents to €4.35 and €3.45 respectively.

Not far behind were pharmaceutical giant Elan who raised their stock price by 14 cents to €19.24.

Most traded stocks included Allied Irish Banks (down two cent to €13.33), Anglo Irish Bank (up nine cent at €14.54), Bank of Ireland (down two cent to €11.39), CRH (up five cent to €19.38) and Ryanair (down two cents to €4.34).

Completing the financial sector are Irish Life and Permanent whose shares went up seven cent to €12.42.