Rousing performance by the ISEQ
The ISEQ index of Irish shares more than made up for lacklustre performances earlier in the week with a rousing display, finishing up 101.92 points to 8006.79.
Irish Life and Permanent set the tone for the financials rising 36c to €19.71. AIB rose 25c to €19.48 and Bank of Ireland gained 9c to €15.14.
Anglo Irish Bank bucked the trend, falling 8c to €13.12.
Elsewhere pharmaceutical company Elan rose 28c to €12.10 following the announcement that it and its partner Biogen Idec have confirmed that they have resumed a safety study on their controversial MS drug Tysabri.
The companies had voluntarily suspended trials of the drug last year after two patients who had taken Tysabri died from a rare brain infection called progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy.
Elsewhere oil stocks enjoyed varying fortunes. With Dragon Oil rising 12c to €2.93, nearly 5%, while Tullow Oil fell by the same amount to stand at €4.94 at the end of day's trading.
