Prices rise in tandem with Europe but gains are modest

Market Report. Settlement Date: November 15thPrices in Dublin rose again yesterday in tandem with Europe, though the gains were moderate. The ISEQ index finished ahead just over 1.5 per cent at 4310.71.

Bank of Ireland was the big winner, moving ahead 55 cents to €11.40, having earlier hit €11.50, as buyers moved in ahead of results that are widely expected to be strong.

AIB managed to recover some ground, moving up 18 cents to €14.05. Irish Life & Permanent climbed five cents to €12.20 while Anglo Irish was steady at €6.55 and First Active closed unchanged at €4.77.

Riverdeep continued to trade in large volume, with 2.2 million shares changing hands yesterday at prices around €1.35 to €1.40, although the share eventually closed down 12 cents at €1.20.

Figures from Viridian, the Northern Ireland power group, were seen as good and support for the share strengthened. In Dublin, where it rarely trades, Viridian moved ahead three cents to €7.95 in light volume while in London, it advanced 7.5p to £5.06.

Galen Holdings rose 35 cents ahead of results today to €7.40 while Waterford Wedgwood, which also reports today, slipped a cent to 40 cents.

Shares in Irish Continental rose 10 cents to €6.35 a day after chairman Mr Tom Toner bought 27,000 shares at €6.25, bringing his total holding to 186,759. The company was in the market itself on Monday buying 75,950 shares at prices between €6.20 and €6.25.

Elsewhere Mr Dermot Desmond announced he had been in the market again, mopping up almost 270,000 shares in Dunloe at 44 cents each and bringing his holding to 16.795 per cent.