Profit-taking is order of the day

THE ISEQ index lost ground yesterday as profit-taking took hold off the market. The Dublin market fell back by 95.53 points to 6453.53.

The financial sector suffered most as AIB slipped back 22c to €16.90 while Bank of Ireland dipped 18c to €12.63. In the second line Anglo Irish and Irish Life & Permanent both closed lighter by 17c and 10c respectively.

Eircom closed down 1c to €1.94 as the Minister for Communications responded negatively to the company's proposal for Local Loop Unbundling.