Banks help FTSE into positive territory

The ISEQ index closed in positive territory today, climbing 34.54 to 5.661.46, buoyed by a strong performance by financial stocks.

Allied Irish Bank shares climbed 10c today to €13.60 while Bank of Ireland shares were up 18c to €11.20.

Anglo-Irish Bank shares were up 20c to €15.05 while Irish Life & Permanent shares jumped 22c to €13.05.

Shares in building materials giant CRH were up 10c today to €19.30.

Elsewhere Irish pharmaceutical giant Elan saw shares slip 25c today despite Elan and Biogen submitting an application for the approval of Antegren as a treatment for Crohn's disease.

Ryanair shares climbed 13c to €4.14. The low-cost airline today announced seven new European routes from Milan.

Shares in agribusiness giant Kerry Group was on the rise, climbing 30c to €17.70. IAWS also fared well, up 14c to €10.

Shares in Jury's Doyle Hotel Group slipped 22c today to €10.55.

The most traded stocks today were CRH, WarnerChilcott (unchanged at €11.24), Bank of Ireland, AIB and IAWS.