ISEQ up at noon

The ISEQ index of Irish shares was up 36.28 points to 2,746.95 by midday today, a rise of 1.34%.

Index majors on the rise included Kerry Group, adding 48c to €25.75; Smurfit Kappa, up 23c to €7.78; CRH, adding 20c to €12.51; Ryanair, climbing 13c to €4.14; Merrion Pharmaceuticals, up 10c to €3.70 and Elan, up 8c to €4.09.

On the fallers' board, Aryzta shed 27c to €31.70 and C&C was down 7c to €3.04.

Financial stocks were mixed, with AIB down 2c to €0.46, Bank of Ireland up 2c to €0.69 and Irish Life & Permanent also up 2c, to €1.50.