DUBLIN REPORT:Iseq: 3,268.05 (-24.14) Settlement date:April 12th

THE BIGGEST mover on the Dublin market yesterday was AIB, although fellow financial stock Irish Life & Permanent also found favour on the day.

AIB rose by about 14.5 per cent on the back of a positive note issued by RBS in which it upgraded its recommendation on the stock to "buy". At the close, AIBwas 18 cent up at €1.43.

Some profit-taking in Bank of Irelandpushed its share price down almost 3 per cent, or 5 cent, to €1.74. Irish Life & Permanent"played catch up" with the two biggest banking names, one trader said, which have recorded gains since "Super Tuesday" last week. It closed up more than 6 per cent, or about 18 cent, at €3.10 on strong volume.

Financial services provider IFG Groupwas another winner on the day, closing up 4 cent at €1.34.

Outside of the financial sector, Siteservsoared by 40 per cent after it announced that its subsidiary Sierra Communications has signed a contract with Bord Gáis worth up to €60 million. However, the infrastructure support services group, which is listed on the junior IEX market, is trading at such low levels that this gain equated to just 2 cent, bringing it to 7 cent.

Market heavyweight CRHtraded lower, although there was no real newsflow, shedding more than 3 per cent – just under 60 cent – to close at €18.51.

Other players in the construction sector fared better, however. Grafton Groupand Kingspanadded 12 cent and 15 cent respectively, bringing them to €3.17 and €6.95.

After breaking through the €4 mark following the release of positive traffic figures, Ryanairslipped back to €3.95 by the close.

Overall the Iseq index drifted off in line with its European peers, and closed the session down 24 points, or 0.7 per cent, at 3,268.05.