Fyffes, FBD drag ISEQ up

The ISEQ index was up 14.91 points at 7144.4 at 10.30am today.

Fruit-distribution group Fyffes made a gain of 11c (5.2%) to €2.24. The company intends to establish a new, separately quoted property company, Bluestone Properties plc, with initial net assets of approximately €200m.

Insurer FBD was up €1.50 (4.3%) at €36.50. It was the morning’s busiest share.

Anglo Irish Bank was up 28c (2.3%) at €12.30. Irish Life and Permanent dropped 5c to €16.65.

Bank of Ireland gained 2c to €13.41, while Allied Irish Bank fell 1c to €17.94.

CRH was up 12c at €23.72.

Food company IAWS slipped 8c to €10.80. The group has bought 56,547 more ordinary shares in Swiss bakery company Hiestand Holdings for €36.6m.

Ryanair fell 4c to €7.66. The airline has announced a free return-flight offer for all passengers booking annual multi-trip insurance policies with the company including winter sports and golf cover.

Irish Continental was up 2c at €10.80. SIPTU is still holding out for Government assurances on the protection of employment standards before it will agree to support the next round of social partnership talks, following the Irish Ferries dispute.