ISEQ down over 23 points

The ISEQ index of Irish shares closed down 23.66 points at 2,963.58 this evening, a drop of 0.79%.

On the fallers' board, CRH was down 33c to €18.07; Paddy Power shed 14c to €25.35; Elan Corp was down 10c to €4.35 and C&C slipped 8c to €2.84.

Financial stocks were also on the back foot, with AIB down 4c to €1.52; Bank of Ireland 3c off at €1.61 and Irish Life & Permanent down 3c to €3.77.

Among the risers, Kerry Group added 30c to €21.90; Merrion Pharmaceutical was up 18c to €3.78; FBD added 11c to €6.78; Tullow Oil gained 10c to €14.00, and Smurfit Kappa and Glanbia both climbed 7c, to €6.02 and €2.72 respectively.