ISEQ down 4.5%

The Irish Stock Exchange took another hammering today, as the ISEQ index fell well below the psychologically important 2,000 mark – losing 93.20 points to 1,981.12.

Bucking the usual trend for a day of losses, the financials all gained ground. Irish Life & Permanent led the way, climbing 9c to 72c, with Allied Irish Bank (which announced profits of around €1bn) not far behind, up 8c to 46c. Bank of Ireland inched up 1c to 20c.