ISEQ down as financials struggle

The ISEQ slipped 7.79 points to 6216.0 today, with building group Kingspan leading the list of risers.

The Co Cavan building materials group has seen shares surge 28c to €8.84 today after today revealing pre-tax profits climbed 34% in 2004 to €88m.

Financial shares have not fared so well, however. Allied Irish Bank shares closed down 7c to €16.07, Bank of Ireland shares slipped 6c to €13.01 while Anglo Irish Bank shares fell 8c to €20.32.

Irish Life & Permanent, which yesterday revealed a 57% profits surge to €411.2m, remained unchanged at €14.80.

Pharmaceutical company Elan - which suffered such a tough time as shares collapsed last week - climbed 25c to €5.25 today.

Paddy Power shares also surged today, climbing 15c to €13.90.

The most traded shares today are Anglo Irish Bank, Ryanair, Grafton, Bank of Ireland and CRH.