ISEQ loses ground

The ISEQ index of Irish shares was down more than 1% today, losing 27.96 points to 2,148.48.

The financials had a mixed day. Allied Irish Banks lost 7c to 86c, with Bank of Ireland down 5c to 67c. Irish Life and Permanent climbed 3c to €1.85 however.

Fortunes were similarly varied in the construction sector. In what has been a rollercoaster week for the company, CRH fell 40c to €16.95. By contrast, Grafton improved 21c to €2.60.

Irish Continental Group once again endured the biggest loss of the day again, shedding €1 to €13. Paddy Power fell 41c to €12.54, Kerry Group was down 27c to €15.05. FBD surrendered 11c to finish on €6.40.

There was some good news here and there however. Tullow Oil shot up 24c to €8.81, with Icon not far behind (up 21c to €10.70). Merrion Pharmacy (up 15c to €3.15) and DCC (up 10c to €12.92) were the other big movers.