ISEQ edges towards 6000 mark

The ISEQ index of shares continued to edge towards the 6000 mark today as the financials, and especially AIB, surged ahead.

The ISEQ gained 40.76 to end the week on 5,872.27 in a day that the euro reached record highs against the dollar.

AIB gained 23c to €15,80, Bank of Ireland was up 4c to €11.07, Anglo Irish was up 9c to €13.87, while Irish Live & Permanent added 18c to end the week on €13.63.

Jury's Hotel group remained unchanged at €10.80 as it opened an Inn at Heathrow airport, at a cost to the group of £24m (€34.3m).

It is the fourth Jurys Inn to open in the UK this year and brings to 17 the number of Jurys Inns across Ireland and the UK. Jurys Doyle Hotel Group now operates 34 properties in Ireland, the UK and the USA.

Pharmaceuticals giant Elan was among the main movers, gaining a whopping 50c, or 2.65%, to €19.40.