ISEQ making modest gains

The ISEQ-index of Irish shares shuffled forward 13.32 points this morning to stand at 5842.66 by midday.

ISEQ-listed business Qualceram Shires today announced a turnover of €90m for 2007.

The bathroom manufacturer, marketer and distributor announced operating profit for the company was up to €6.2m from 4.1m on 2006 earning a gross margin of 30.5%.

Chief executive of Qualceram Shires, John O’Loughlin, said: "The financial year under review presented the group with a volatile and uncertain property market which was primarily responsible for a lower than expected financial performance."

Elsewhere, the banks experienced a mixed morning With AIB totting up a 34c increase on its share price to €12.94 while Anglo dropped 4c to €6.86.