The ISEQ closed up 38.73 to 8045.04 today under the shadow of stark warnings from the European Central Bank which indicated it was ready to raise its key interest rates further after already raising them by a full percentage point to 3% since December.

The ISEQ index continued its steady growth today up 15.87 points on opening to 8009.99.

THE ISEQ index rebounded somewhat from Friday’s slump. The Irish Exchange climbed 20.14 points to 7781.83.

Building materials group CRH has announced its biggest-ever transaction - its US subsidiary Oldcastle Materials has reached agreement to purchase Ashland Paving And Construction (APAC) for $1.3bn (€1.01bn).