The Iseq Index gained 30.22 points yesterday to close at 3,227.6.

House price growth would "soften" this year, according to IIB Bank, which today announced after-tax profits for last year of €125m.

PROFITS at IIB Bank grew by 9% in 2002 to €57.8m, as the company’s home loan business grew to take 10% of the new mortgage market in Ireland.