ISEQ dips slightly

The ISEQ index of Irish shares was down today, falling 23.42 points to 9149.91.

Builders merchants Grafton have said their turnover for the first half of this year was €1.6bn, up 12.5% on the same period in 2006.

Grafton said better conditions in the UK in the second half of 2006 are continuing and underlie a "return to growth in this market".

Despite this their share price fell €0.65 to €9.90.

Ormonde Mining has increased its equity interest in the La Zarza project in southern Spain to 100% in an acquisition which includes all land holdings at La Zarza held by joint venture partner Nueva Tharsis.

An initial payment of €350,000 to Nueva Tharsis has been paid from existing cash resources. They experienced no growth however, with their share price staying immobile at €16.

The financial institutions had differing fortunes today: AIB were up €0.13 to €20.26, Anglo fell €0.05 to €14.30, Bank of Ireland dropped €0.14 to €14.51 and IL&P climbed €0.05 to €18.20.