ISEQ plunges

The ISEQ-index close in negative territory today as construction shares weighed heavy on banking shares.

Building groups CRH and Grafton both found themselves floundering in the red with a 52c and 20c losses at €35.42 and €11.20 respectively.

Irish shares closed down 69.58 points at 9409.03 dampening hopes that shares could bounce back in light of yesterday's more promising results.

Banking big guns plunged this afternoon with all major institutions suffering double figure losses.

AIB and Anglo were both down 24c at €21.03 and €16.08. IL&P finished up the day as the worst performer with a 33c fall at €18.82.

Bank of Ireland also lost out with a 29c drop at €15.31.

Elsewhere software company Norkom provided a beacon of hope on the trading floor as it recorded a 5c increase with €2 per share.

The financial software firm has credited a strong sales performance for a 38% increase in revenues to €25m for the year ending March 31.

After-tax profit was €3.5m, up from €2m last year.