AFTER the sector's strong run following the good results from AIB, profit-taking dragged financial shares lower in relatively thin trading, in line with the generally weaker tone on European equity markets.

With Wall Street finally turning downwards after its record-breaking recent run, there was little to provide any of the European markets with any impetus.

AIB and Bank of Ireland were both 2p lower on 350p and 438p respectively. Elsewhere in the fiancials, Hibernian took a sudden dive and fell 15p to 250p although Irish Permanent was 1p better on 400p.

Irish Life was down about 2 1/4p on a sterling equivalent of 245.74p

Industrials were mixed, with Smurfit drifting 1p lower to 145 despite a modest overnight improvement by JS Corp. Greencore moved ahead to another new high and closed up 7p after an after-hours deal at 560p.

A sizeable chunk of Avonmore changed hands at 127p but the share bounced back and closed up 1p on 131p.

The £8.6 million sterling acquisition by Kingspan was well-received and Riada was able to place 1.32 million shares at 225p, a discount of just 5p on the past price.

Kingspan later dealt at 230p and was drawing bids at 235p.

Green gained 7p to 185p, while Waterford Wedgwood was unchanged on 60p with the market relieved that the loose 27 million shares held by Tiger Management are now in more secure hands.