Dublin Report: The Irish market pushed ahead yesterday on what was its busiest day of the week, taking the ISEQ back above 8,000.

The financials put in a particularly positive showing, outperforming their UK and European rivals.

Demand was very strong for Allied Irish Bank, dealers said.

Shares in the bank rose 38 cent, or almost 2 per cent, to end the day at €19.81. More than three million units changed hands, compared with the recent daily average of about two million.

Bank of Ireland also fared well, gaining 22 cent, or 1.4 per cent, to close at €15.50.

Irish Life & Permanent continued the good run it has had all week, hitting a record of €20 during the day before falling back to close up 18 cent, or 0.9 per cent, at €19.80.

Anglo Irish Bank was the weakest of the financials, but it did manage to end up 14 cent, or 1 per cent, at €13.46.

C&C was also a star performer as the drinks and snacks maker benefited from positive reactions to the advertising campaign it launched in the UK earlier in the week. Demand for the stock was strong, with more than nine million shares changing hands in Dublin and London combined - equal to about 2 per cent of the shares in issue. The stock added 13 cent, or 2.4 per cent, to end at €5.55.

Grafton also did well, rising to new highs during the day. The stock fell back slightly as the day progressed to close up 18 cent, or 1.7 per cent, at €10.94.

One of the day's few newsmakers was Newcourt. The security and recruitment services group reported a surge in annual profit and said the profit in the first few months of 2006 hadn't "disappointed." The shares added two cent, or 1.5 per cent, to close at €1.34.

Exploration groups were strong, with Tullow Oil leading the way. Shares in Tullow rose 22 cent, or 4.6 per cent, to close at €5.05, while Providence Resources added 8 per cent, to end the day at eight cent. Ormonde Mining was up almost 6 per cent, closing at 20 cent.