ISEQ ends week in the red

The Dublin stock exchange continued a week of losses today as it saw its overall price fall 11.79 points to 6,084.30, despite gains in the construction sector and by Icon PLC.

The technology company saw their share price soar by €1 to €27 by the end of the day's trading today.

The increases in the construction sector came from Kingspan (up 26c to €8.89), Readymix (up 13c to €2.18), Grafton (up 11c to €9.55) and Abbey (up 10c to €9.30).

Jurys Hotel group was another major riser with a 25c climb to €11.85 and both Paddy Power and South Wharf saw their prices go up by 15c to €14.10 and €2.85 respectively.

Shares in Anglo Irish Bank edged a cent higher today to €20.01 while Allied Irish Bank shares climbed five cent to €15.68.

Elsewhere in the financial sector it was a negative day as Irish Life & Permanent shares slipped 10c to €14.40 and Bank of Ireland tumbled 14c to €12.54. Bank of Ireland revealed today it is to open an office of its corporate division in Paris.

Insurance group FBD continued to see shares rise today, rising nine cent to €21.09. FBD announced pre-tax profits of €135m for 2004 on Wednesday.

Pharmaceutical group Elan saw shares fall back today after two days of consecutive rises. Elan shares fell 37c to €5.42.

Meanwhile Waterford Wedgewood's share price remained steady today after news that the company's chief financial officer Paul D'Alton has resigned to join AgCert International.