CRH in positive territory on ISEQ

Shares in construction company CRH rose 22c to €24.65 following the news that the group is to pay about €300m for a 26.3% stake in Spanish cement producer Corporacion Uniland.

CRH said in a statement this morning that its existing Spanish operation has a long business relationship with Uniland which also has interests in Tunisia, Argentina and Uruguay.

That wasn't enough to boost the ISEQ as it began the last day's trading of the year down 10.19 points to 7337.39 by 11am.

The financials enjoyed mixed fortunes. AIB suffered the heaviest loss falling 23c to €18.15, while Bank of Ireland slipped 12c to €13.30.

Anglo Irish Bank rose 11c to €12.78 and Irish Life and Permanent rose 5c to €17.05.

Dragon Oil rose 10c to €2.86, 3.62%.

Low-Budget airline Ryanair fell 8c to €8.22.