ISEQ sheds over 40 points

The ISEQ index of shares failed to recover from a bad start to the day to close down 40.99 at 5,645.74.

There were mixed fortunes for the financials. AIB recovered from early losses to cluse up 5c at €13.60. Anglo Irish was up 1c to €14.83.

Bank of Ireland shares plumetted however, shedding 33c to close at €11.05. Irish Life & Permanent shec 1c to close at €12.74.

Ryanair shares have fallen 14c to €4.09 today as the company's Annual General Meeting took place in Dublin today. Ryanair unveiled its new in-flight entertainment system to shareholders ahead of the meeting today and, at the meeting, chief executive Michael O'Leary renewed his calls for a second terminal at Dublin Airport.

Meanwhile pharmaceutical giant Elan was on the slide today, falling 34c to €18.88.

Shares in construction giant CRH were also down, shedding 22c to €19.58 despite a recovery in contract awards in the US which continued in August.

Viridian shares were doen 14c at €9 as newspapers reported that Viridian will announce plans to build a second generating station at Huntstown next Monday morning.