Ferry and freight services group Irish Continental has said it is cautious about its growth prospects for this year, after seeing pre-tax profits fall by over 20% last year.

World stocks and the euro moved lower yesterday following comments from the US Senate majority leader Democrat Harry Reid that the economy may be poised to go off the “fiscal cliff”.

The ISEQ index of Irish shares closed up 13 points to 3,161, a gain of 0.4%.

Ferry and freight services group Irish Continental saw passengers rise and its debt levels drop in the first four and a half months of this year; but losses rose and total revenues dropped slightly due to significant increases in fuel costs.

The ISEQ index of Irish shares closed up 58.70 points to 2,960.52, a rise of 2.02%.

THE ISEQ was one of 12 of the 18 national benchmark indexes to decline yesterday, falling 0.45% to 2,852.48.

THE ISEQ yesterday closed at 2,865.35 up 28.60 points — the sixth successive day delivering a rise, though on reduced trading.

EUROPEAN stock markets made a positive start to the week on the back of the continent’s super-powers ramping up attempts to end the eurozone debt crisis and save the future of the single currency.

The ISEQ index of Irish shares close up 12.21 points to 2,623.72, a gain of 0.47%.

The ISEQ index of Irish shares closed down 31.59 points to 2,511.77, a drop of 1.24%.

The ISEQ index of Irish shares closed up 16.09 points to 2,679.36, a gain of 0.60%.

Ferry operator Irish Continental Group posted operating profits of €25m for the nine months to end September, down from €27.8m for the same period last year.

INTERNATIONAL stockmarkets advanced for a second day’s growth, yesterday, on the back of the European Central Bank’s unexpected interest rate cut and news that a referendum on the latest Greek bailout is now unlikely in its intended form.

The ISEQ index of Irish shares closed up 72.15 points to 2,682.14, a rise of 2.76%.

The ISEQ index of Irish shares closed up 30.38 poitns to 2,629.56, a rise of 1.17%.

The ISEQ index of Irish shares closed up 16.25 points to 2,604.54, a rise of 0.63%.

The ISEQ index of Irish shares closed down 48.39 points to 2,444.52, a drop of 1.94%.

The ISEQ index of Irish shares closed up 49.81 points to 2,467.51, a rise of 2.06%.

IRISH investors suffered a double whammy yesterday, with the ISEQ starting the week with a fresh decline and new figures showing recent dramatic falls in domestic pension fund values.

A €4 million rise in the company’s fuel bill resulted in a drop in pre-tax profits at ferries group Irish Continental (ICG).

The ISEQ index of Irish shares closed down 34.87 points to 2,419.77, a drop of 1.42%.

The ISEQ index of Irish shares closed up 71.20 points or 2.91% to 2,520.44 this evening.

DESPITE the US Government nearing completion of its deal to up its borrowing limit and temporarily avert defaulting on its debt, international markets reacted nervously to Stateside news yesterday.

ANALYSTS are awaiting the next installment at investment group One51.

A FRESH management buyout bid at ferry and freight services group Irish Continental (ICG) is unlikely to materialise in the foreseeable future.

IRISH Continental Group (ICG) slipped into the red during the first quarter, recording a pre-tax loss of €1.2 million. It remains uncertain over its financial prospects for 2011 due to rising fuel costs.

Trading in Irish bank shares returned today, bringing mixed news for the Irish financials.

IRELAND’S financial stocks rebounded yesterday as the European Commission backed further moves to alleviate the country’s banking crisis.

THE volcanic ash emissions from Iceland in April provided a boost to first-half profits at ferry operator Irish Continental Group (ICG) as passenger numbers jumped 12%.

VOLCANIC ash from Iceland has helped ferry group Irish Continental to achieve near flat year-on-year revenue of €75.7m and before-tax earnings of €8.0m.

The Iseq index of shares has had a negative morning with a 57-point decrease to 2,816.20 by 11.15am.

The Iseq index of shares has shown a slight rise after Smurfit Kappa reported strong results for the year so far.

FERRY and freight services group, Irish Continental (ICG), Paddy Power, DCC and Elan were among the best performing stocks in an otherwise dull day’s trading in Dublin, yesterday.

The Irish Stock Exchange is in the black this morning with a 13-point rise to 2,894.47 by 11am.

THE financial woes of developer Liam Carroll have hit the share values of two publicly quoted Irish firms whose shares he may have to offload to meet his debts.

BRITISH-based hazardous waste management group Augean has ended takeover talks with One51, an Irish-holding company.

The ISEQ index of Irish shares closed at 2,693.34 this evening.

The Iseq index of shares has had a positive morning with the index showing a 24.51 point rise up to 2,727.65 by 11am.

The ISEQ index of Irish shares was valued at 2,870.33 at 11am this morning.

The Irish Stock Exchange has slipped 32 points in morning trading to stand at 2,716.5 by 11am.

The ISEQ index of Irish shares was valued at 2,649.79 at 11am this morning.

The ISEQ index of Irish shares was valued at 2,546.75 at 11am this morning.

The Dublin Stock Exchange has experienced a slight fall in morning trading with the Iseq index down 22.58 points to 2,588.16 by 10.30am.

The ISEQ index of Irish shares closed at 2,688.93 this evening.