ISEQ up at close

The ISEQ index of Irish shares closed up 44.39 points to 2,857.96 today, a rise of 1.58%.

Among the risers, Paddy Power added 55c to €27.10; Tullow Oil was up 38c to €15.75; CRH cheered 36c to €15.11; DCC was also up 36c, to €19.38; FBD climbed 28c to €6.83; Smurfit Kappa added 26c to €7.66; Kingspan was up 12c to €5.46; Grafton Group climbed 9c to €2.83 and Aer Lingus was up 8c to €0.95.

Financial stocks were also on the front foot, with AIB up 4c to €0.85, Bank of Ireland adding 4c to €0.81 and Irish Life & Permanent up 2c to €1.68.

On the fallers' board, Elan Corp slipped 7c to €3.76; Kerry Group was down 8c to €24.62 and Merrion Pharmaceuticals shed 15c to €4.00.