AIB shares advance even as European stock markets edge lower

AIB led the gainers among the heavyweights, closing 2% up on the day to extend their winning streak since the start of the year to 23%

AIB shares — which stock markets value at over €12.5bn — have now extended their lead over Bank of Ireland since the banks unveiled their 2023 financial results. 

European shares edged lower, led by a slump in the telecom firms, while shares in Ireland slightly outperformed thanks to gains for AIB. 

The pan-European Stoxx 600 index of Europe's most valuable firms was down 0.1%, with the Iseq index in Dublin rising slightly by 0.1%, to outperform European stock market peers.