Continued losses on Wall Street and a weak performance in London failed to stop the Irish market moving ahead steadily, with most of the gains being notched up by the financial shares. Technical factors, as much as anything else, are now coming into play in the financial shares with around £300 million of realised cash from the definite Woodchester and likely New Ire- land sales looking for secure investments.

With that cash having come out of two financial shares, it is likely that the bulk of it will be reinvested in the financial sector, a factor that will keep banking and insurance shares well-bid for the foreseeable future.

On the market yesterday, AIB put on 10 1/2p to 590p, Bank of Ire- land was 7p firmer on 812p, Anglo Irish added 2p to 103p, while Irish Life gained 1p to 347p. Irish Permanent - which has cancelled 6.8 million unclaimed free shares - added 5p to 628p.

Industrials were generally weaker, but Smurfit bucked the trend and added 3p to 227p.

Second-liners drifted lower, with Clondalkin off 10p on 590p. Crean was also 10p lower on 150p, while Golden Vale lost 2p to 77 1/2 p. McInerney was 3p lower on 62p.

Greencore remained out of sorts and fell 4p to 319p, with investors reluctant to take positions until the company's acquisition activity becomes clearer. Kerry, which is also likely to be involved in substantial acquisitions, was 5p firmer on 750p.