ISEQ gets week off to good start

The ISEQ index of Irish shares commenced the week in good form, rising 19.74 points to 7616.05 by the end of today's trading.

The financials enjoyed mostly good fortunes. Bank of Ireland saw the biggest increase eising 16c to €14.41. AIB and Anglo Irish Bank both rose 3c to €18.41 and €13.05 respectively.

Irish Life and Permanent recorded no change, staying at €17.40.

In the mining and exploration sector, gas exploration and production company Providence announced today that it had signed a farm-out agreement with ExxonMobil, the world’s largest oil and gas company, on its Dunquin Prospect in the Porcupine Basin off the west coast of Ireland. The news saw Providence stock rise a cent to 6c.

Meanwhile, mining company Glencar has executed an agreement with Orogen Holdings BVI , a wholly-owned subsidiary of Gold Fields Ltd, relating to the Sankarani project in Mali, West Africa. Glencar stock rose a cent to 10c today.

Finally, no-frills airline Ryanair saw its stock fall 2c to €7.70 today. An undercover documentary to be broadcast in Britain tonight is set to accuse Ryanair of security lapses, operating dirty aircraft and over-working its staff.