ISEQ closes on positive note

The ISEQ index of Irish shares closed at 2,856.95 this evening.

This represented an increase of 38.92 points or 1.38%.

There was mixed news for the major banks, as AIB and Bank of Ireland rose, up 28c and 4c to €1.88 and €1.81 respectively, but Irish Life & Permanent fell 10c to €3.40.

The oil industry also saw mixed results, as Dragon Oil climbed 29c to €3.87 but Tullow Oil dropped 37c to €11.42.

Kingspan (down 52c to €4.63), Elan (down 18c to €5.10) and Grafton Group (down 11c to €3.10) were major fallers elsewhere, but there was some good news for FBD, which increased 29c to €7.53, and Merrion Pharmaceutical, up 70c to €4.80.