ISEQ boosted by Viridian, UTV

The ISEQ index closed up 32.45 points today at 6843.84.

Northern energy group Viridian made the day’s biggest gain, up 70c (6%) to €12.31. The group reported pre-tax profits of £76.8m (€112.1m) for the six months to the end of September today, up from £52m (€75.9m) in the same period last year.

Ulster Television was up 20c (5%) to €6.30.

Elan gained 41c (4.8%) to €8.93.

Technology company Icon, also listed on the NASDAQ, fell €1.10 (3.2%) to €32.90.

Ryanair was up 8c (1.1%) at €7.50.

CRH closed up 20c at €22.85.

Irish Life & Permanent closed up 9c at €15.21. Anglo Irish Bank was down 7c at €11.08, having been the day’s busiest share.

Allied Irish Bank lost 6c to close at €17.60. The bank today announced it was going into partnership with Aviva for the manufacture and distribution of its life and pensions products in Ireland.

Bank of Ireland closed up 1c at €13.20.

Food company Greencore lost 2c to close at €3.12. It reported pre-tax losses of €63.9m for the year to the end of September, compared with €5.9m for the same period last year.

Independent News & Media was up 1c at €2.30. The media group will release its 2005 full-year pre-close trading statement on Thursday, December 22.