ISEQ loses ground

The ISEQ index of Irish shares fell 20.91 points to 3,016.03 by close of trading today.

Irish Life and Permanent was alone among the financials in improving today, inching up 1c to €3.50. Allied Irish Banks lost 4c to €1.37, and Bank of Ireland shed 1c to €1.42.

There were some heavy losses elsewhere. After some impressive gains recently, Tullow Oil slumped €1.06 to finish on €14.31. Icon (down 47c to €16.10) and Irish Continental Group (down 40c to €14.10) were the heaviest fallers.

In the construction sector, Kingspan lost 18c to €6.15 and CRH was 14c worse off on €17.62.

Elsewhere, Paddy Power (down 25c to €23.85) and DCC (down 19c to €19.49) and Merrion Pharmacies (down 10c to €3.60) were the other significant fallers.