ISEQ falls back

The ISEQ slipped slightly today, falling 18.88 to stand at 6028.48 by mid-morning.

Banking shares were mixed. Allied Irish Bank clused up 5c at €16.50, while Bank of Ireland shares dropped 12c to €12.27.

Anglo Irish Bank fell 20c to €9.60 while Irish Life & Permanent fell 10c to €13.10.

Elsewhere building group Kingspan has climbed in trading today after it announced it had purchased British group Advanced Thermal Composites for £20m (€29m). Shares in Kingspan closed up 7c to €9.23.

Also in the building sector, Grafton has confirmed trading in the first four months of the year has been in line with expectations. Grafton shares fell back 19c to €8.66 in today's trading.

Broadcaster Ulster TV shook hands today on a £98.2m (€144.5m) offer for the owner of talkSPORT radio. Shares in UTV are 8c to close at €7.48.

Jurys Doyle Hotel Group's shares raced ahead 74c to €14.10 today as it reveled it has received an approach which may lead to an offer for the company.