MARKET REPORT: The combination of a summer bank holiday in the UK and sunshine at home resulted in a quiet day on the Dublin market, where low volumes were the rule. The index managed the end the day in positive territory, closing up 0.34 per cent amid unsettled trading.

Settlement Day: August 29th

Most interest was shown in Bank of Ireland, with more than two million shares changing hands. The stock closed the day up three cents at €11.83, regaining losses sustained earlier in the day and winning back ground lost last week.

AIB, considered a more likely candidate for a coveted place in the Eurostoxx 50 index, closed unchanged at €13.33, with just under one million shares traded.

Elsewhere in financials, there was continued good interest in Irish Life and Permanent, which attracted significant attention last week on the back of AIB and Bank of Ireland abandoning IT merger talks. The smaller financial gained 30 cents to close at €13.80, with investors anticipating solid first-half results next week.

Anglo Irish Bank was also a winner on the day, closing up four cents at €6.28.

Other stocks where results influenced movements included CRH which gained 25 cents to finish at €15.35 in advance of next week's statement.

Grafton, due to post results on Wednesday, closed up six cents at €4.40.

Among the losers were Arnotts, which closed down 15 cents at €10.45 as investors awaited results, also due tomorrow. FBD, also delivering numbers tomorrow, lost 30 cents to close at €5.20.

Other significant movers included Riverdeep, down 13 cents at €2.80 amid relatively heavy volumes and DCC, which gained 13 cents to close at €11.20, a level last seen at the start of July.