ISEQ up in early trading

The ISEQ index of Irish shares was valued at 2,917.19 points at 11.45am this morning, a rise of 19.01 or 0.66% in early trading.

On a busy day for financial results, AIB was up 4c to €1.04 despite posting a €2.65bn pre-tax loss for 2009, the first in its history. Paddy Power, which saw profits slip by 15% in the year, added 80c or 3.47% to €23.85 as investors reacted to positive developments at home and abroad, while CRH lifted 13c to €17.02 after posting a €732m pre-tax profit.