ISEQ moves up in morning trade

The ISEQ index of Irish shares saw a small rise in morning trading today, up 12.90 to 5628.48.

Main news on the exchange centred on the interim results announcement by Independent News and Media, in which record after-tax profits of €68.1m were revealed. The results are up 42.8% on the same period last year (to June 30).

The group said that advertising and circulation revenues from continuing operations were up 14.3% and 10.4% respectively and that growth in its southern hemisphere operations was a substantial factor in the results.

Most-traded stocks today included Irish Life and Permanent (up 25 cent to €13.10), Anglo Irish Bank (down 11 cent to €14.82), Bank of Ireland (up two cent to €11.42), AIB (up one cent to €13.42) and FBD Holdings (up 20 cent to €17).