Market report: Two words were all that were needed to sum up activity in the Irish market yesterday, and they were Aer Lingus.

Dealers said investors had eyes for little else as more than 140 million shares changed hands in the airline in Dublin alone as it made its debut as a publicly-listed company. The shares do not officially start trading on the Iseq until Monday morning, but this did not defuse interest and, according to those involved, does not really make any difference to the way the stock trades.

The stock's movements are still listed electronically on the stock exchange's website and on financial feeds, which at the close of play yesterday showed the shares up 8 per cent on their initial placing price at €2.38. Dealers said the majority of the Dublin activity took place around the €2.37 level, with much of it attributed to interbroker activity.

Elsewhere, trading was muted with little momentum to push the market higher and the Iseq ended the day little changed. Building materials group CRH struggled yet again to break the psychological €27 barrier and its shares ended the day down 30 cent, or 1.1 per cent, at €26.55.

C&C, the drinks and snacks maker, was also a laggard, dropping 25 cent, or 2.4 per cent, to close at €10.25. One dealer reported the existence of a number of sellers, although there was no stock-specific news behind the desire to sell. Food group Greencore also took a battering, ending the day down 16 cent, or 4 per cent, at €3.78. This was in spite of the company saying that the combined performance of its two main business units would beat market expectations for the year to the end of September.

Paddy Power was one of the few gainers on the day. The shares added 27 cent, or 1.8 per cent, to close at €15

Settlement day: October 2nd