ISEQ continues upward climb

The ISEQ continued its upward climb today as oil prices fell back in the US while some financial shares surged.

The ISEQ climbed 23.02 to close at 6.439.01.

Allied Irish Bank shares climbed 37c to €17.70 today but Bank of Ireland shares slipped 5c to €12.80, falling back from early gains which had seen the group's shares rise 7c earlier in the day's trading.

Irish Life & Permanent shares surged 30c to €14.40 in trading. Irish Life & Permanent predicted in a six month trading statement today the group would meet its targets for the year.

Oil prices fell by around $1 a barrel this evening. This was good news for Ryanair, which rose 16c to €6.46 today.

Greencore shares climbed 7c to €3.52 today. The agribusiness giant says EU proposals for changes in the European sugar industry as moving too fast.

Shares in energy group Viridian slipped 16c to €11.24 on the day a new £200m gas-fuelled ESB power station was officially opened in Derry today.

Elsewhere shares in CRH fell 17c to €21.77. Pharmaceutical group Elan saw shares fall 19c to €5.56.

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