Construction stocks help ISEQ close higher

The ISEQ index surged into positive territory today, closing up 18.07 to end the day at 6,064.02, with construction stocks particularly strong.

Financial stocks were mixed today. Shares in Allied Irish Bank were unchanged at €14.38 while Bank of Ireland shares surged 13c to close at €11.61.

Irish Life & Permanent slipped 5c to €13.45 while Anglo-Irish Bank shares fell 5c to €16.

Meanwhile it was a good day for construction companies. Shares in CRH fell back 9c to €19.38 while shares in Heiton climbed 15c €6.90.

Shares in another building giant, McInerney, climbed spectacularly, gaining 42c to €6.18, while Kingspan shares rose €14c to €6.75.

Elsewhere shares in Ryanair climbed 13c to 5.03. Today Ryanair chief Michael O'Leary criticised the Government's inaction over the development of a second terminal at Dublin Airport as the work of a "fudge factory".

Shares in pharmaceutical giant Elan were up 5c to €13.05 today.

Technology share Iona rose 20c to €3.80.

The most traded shares today were CRH, Bank of Ireland, AIB, Ryanair and Irish Life & Permanent.