Financial stocks were very much the order of the day with investors in Dublin yesterday with Bank of Ireland in particular demand.

Bank of Ireland shares added 30 cents to close at €11 on the back of good buying interest. The stock managed to catch up on AIB's recent run.

Traders said investors seemed to be taking the view that there was still scope for further growth in the Irish market with Bank of Ireland offering most exposure to any potential upside.

Irish Life & Permanent also benefitted from this sentiment with the shares moving up 17 cents to €13.70.

Anglo Irish Bank was also better at €4.10 up four cents, while First Active gained another three cents to close at €3.50. AIB managed to gain four cents on the day to €12.42.

CRH was hit by profit taking sending the shares lower. It closed at €20.05 down 55 cents in fairly light trading.

Smurfit went three cents better to €2.37 with the shares strengthening ahead of interim results due next week.

Elan was stronger with the shares up €1.13 to close at €58.75.

Other shares traded yesterday include DCC, up 16 cents at €10.16.

There was good volume trading in Eircom with dealers reporting steady two way interest in the shares. Eircom closed unchanged at €1.34.

Fyffes was one cent weaker at €1.28, Grafton was five cents better at €3. Greencore gained one cent to close at €2.72.