STRONG demand for CRH was the main feature of a buoyant Irish equity market yesterday, with the tone of the market also boosted by the good half-year results from Irish Permanent and Avonmore.

CRH is generally viewed as having lagged behind the market in recent weeks and the 9p jump yesterday to 610p represented a move upwards from an oversold position. CRH reports interim results next week and these are expected to show continued steady growth.

Otherwise there were no significant movements among the leaders with AIB unchanged on 350p, Bank of Ireland up 2p to 452p in thin trading while Smurfit was 1p firmer on 168p.

Irish Permanent interims came in ahead of forecasts but the share was unchanged on 402p. Avonmore did not trade from its overnight 145p after well-received interims but the shares were well-bid at 145p at the close. The good results from Avonmore had a beneficial effect on the sector with Waterford Foods up 3p, to 93p, ahead of its own interims in a couple of weeks.

Independent was 2p lower on 290p and was unaffected by speculation that it may be a bidder - probably in an alliance with MGN - for United Newspapers' regional newspaper network in Britain. Elan did not trade in. Dublin but in New York the shares jumped to $3114 as pharmaceutical stocks had a bit of a run.

Tullow traded heavily in London - almost 4.5 million shares dealt - following the confirmation that it is to test for gas on its Pakistan licences. The shares rose as high as 114p sterling in London before closing up 2 1/2p on the day on 110 1/2p sterling. In Dublin

Tullow shares were well-bid at 106p, 2p above the price in thee market.