ISEQ races up boosted by financials, Elan and Icon
The ISEQ raced ahead 108 points to 5327 this evening putting in the best performance so far this year with the financials in strong form.
Markets moved up higher around the world following positive better than expected US jobs data released this afternoon.
In Dublin, AIB rose up 35c to €12.60 with a healthy volume of 4.3 million shares traded. BOI closed up 10c to €10.42 with over 3.3 million shares traded. Anglo leapt 53c to €13.53 and Irish Life & Permanent closed up 60c to €14.00.
The biggest percentage gainer of the day was in clinical research group Icon which jumped 6.05c, or 21%, to €34.25 after it reported income from operations of $8.8m for the third quarter, an increase of 42% on the year.
Gresham hotel moved up 3c to €1.18 after it said that pre-tax profits increased 40% in 2003 and its debt was halved following the disposal of three of its hotels last year.
Food stock Greencore closed down 2c to €3.08. The company said today that it had completely extracted itself from the UK bread industry with the sale of it's Rathbones bakeries for €30m.
Glanbia was a busy stock today moving up 12c to €2.68 and Ryanair flew up 4% closing at €4.86 up 19c.
Telecom stock Eircom closed up 2c to €1.45 with over 2.6 million shares traded and pharmaceutical company Elan was a big gainer today, adding 65c to €17.45.
Construction giant CRH closed up 6c to €16.71 and Heiton added 15c to €4.90.
Financial services group IFG continued to bask in yesterday's strong results which showed a return to profitability, closing up 6c to €1.17.
