The stock market again bucked the international trend as strong performances by AIB and CRH helped it to close higher despite continued turmoil overseas.
Settlement Date: March 12th
Dealers said that some nine million AIB shares changed hands between Dublin and London as the stock gained 40 cents, or 3.3 per cent, to €12.45 as it benefited from switching out of Bank of Ireland.
Despite the continuation of its buyback - Bank of Ireland said it was again in the market on Thursday, snapping up 800,000 shares at a price of 10.10 each - its shares lost ground to close nine cents lower at 10.00.
Elsewhere in the financial sector, Irish Life & Permanent remained weak, closing 25 cents lower at 8.55 as it was dragged down by ongoing negative sentiment toward the insurance sector.
However, FBD continued to storm ahead in the wake of its results, closing 20 cents higher at 6.20.
Dealers said CRH also continued to move ahead in the wake of its better-than-expected 2002 results, adding 24 cents to 12.50.
But Ryanair drifted, ending 10 cents lower at €5.45.
Galen's acquisition of three of Pfizer's women's healthcare products earlier this week continued to lend support to that stock, with the shares closing nine cents higher at 4.99 but Elan did not fare so well, losing 15 cents to 3.20.
DCC remained weak, losing a further 10 cents to €9.20, but Irish Continental Group added 35 cents to €7.40 ahead of the release of its 2002 results on Monday while IAWS was off by 10 cents to 6.85 ahead of its interim results on Wednesday.
