Dublin bucks trend to end in black

MOST European bourses ended trading in negative territory yesterday, but shares in Dublin bucked the trend and rose 14.24 points to 6638.43.

The banks were the main catalysts for the rise. Anglo Irish bank jumped 35c to €19.30, while Bank of Ireland advanced 18c to €12.51. Allied Irish Bank added 20c to finish at €15.67, while Irish Life & Permanent rose to €14.10.

Pharmaceutical company Elan have agreed to pay a $15 million fine, in a final settlement for the SEC investigation.