ISEQ climbs in early trading

The ISEQ index of Irish shares made solid gains in early trading this morning, rising 47.02 points to 2,377.38 by 11.30am.

Among the financials, both AIB and Bank of Ireland recorded rises of 8c, to 1.10 and 0.89 respectively. Irish Life & Permanent was however on the fallers' board, shedding 5c to 1.69.

Index majors on an upward trend included Kerry Group, jumping 47c to 14.73; CRH, up 10c to 17.02; Elan Corp, cheering 6c to 4.61, and Greencore, rising 4c to 0.86.

Up 20c were Kingspan and Paddy Power, to 3.30 and 13.70 respectively.

Investors responded positively to the announcement earlier this morning that Aer Lingus CEO Dermot Mannion was to step down, pushing the former flag-carrier's stock up 5c to 0.72. Low-cost rival Ryanair meanwhile was also climbing, up 11c to 3.11.