ISEQ down almost 3% at close

The ISEQ index of Irish shares closed at 2,599.25 this evening.

This represented a fall of 77.13 points or 2.88%, following a positive start this morning.

Irish Life & Permanent was the only bank to post an increase, up 10c to €2.70 as AIB (down 3c to €1.15) and Bank of Ireland (down 13c to €1.14) suffered losses.

In other sectors, Kerry Group and Paddy Power endured heavy setbacks, down 62c and 30c to €15.98 and €15.15 respectively.

Grafton Group and Glabia had more modest falls, down 18c and 14c to €2.70 and €2.30 respectively, but there was some cheer for Smurfit Kappa, which added 16c to €3.07.