ISEQ in festive form
The ISEQ index of Irish shares started the last day's trading before Christmas on a positive note rising 47.53 points to 7254.51 by 11am.
AIB had a particularly strong showing, rising 44c to €18.09, almost two and a half per cent.
Irish life and Permanent rose 30c to €16.70 and Bank of Ireland rose 3c to €13.31.
Anglo Irish Bank bucked the trend, slipping 2c to €12.32.
Elsewhere, Tullow Oil had a strong morning, rising 18c to €3.93.
Eircom rose 1c to €1.98.
