CRH’s market value has increased by €1bn on the back of it announcing an ambitious four-year growth plan which could see the building materials giant spend around €7bn on acquisitions.

Shares in CRH jumped by more than 2% on the back of the building materials company receiving approval for its $3.5bn (€2.98bn) takeover of US cement manufacturer Ash Grove.

CRH is still tipped to win out in its plans to acquire US cement giant Ash Grove but will likely have to pay more than the $3.5bn (€2.98bn) it had planned for it to fend off an 11th-hour from a US rival.

Sterling fell to a near four-and-a-half week low against the US dollar today, as reports of a Tory plot to topple UK Prime Minister Theresa May cast fresh doubt over her future.

Shares in CRH rose 3% after the building-materials giant announced it was to buy a leading US cement manufacturer for $3.5bn (€2.93bn).