Dublin reportNot only is the Ryder Cup dominating the Irish press, but yesterday it also managed to influence activity in the Irish market.

The dealers who hadn't made it out to the K Club event reported low volumes and a general lack of momentum in most stocks. As a result, the Iseq - along with its European peers - took its direction from US markets, which ended the night in negative territory prompted by yet more concerns about weakening economic growth.

CRH was one of the busier stocks, with more than 2.2 million shares changing hands. News emerged from the US that the group's US subsidiary had begun selling off low-margin businesses it acquired last month through the purchase of Virginia-based Apac.

Dealers welcomed the sale and particularly the prompt timing of the transaction. However, the stock failed to react positively, a move traders attributed to general negative sentiment rather than CRH's strategy.

The shares fell 55 cent, or 2 per cent, to end the day at €26.40.

Elsewhere, Ryanair also put in a lacklustre performance, slipping 15 cent, or 1.8 per cent, to close at €8.15, a move one dealer said wasn't surprising given the stock's recent gains. Profit taking also seemed to be on the agenda among the financials, which have had a good run this week following Bank of Ireland's positive trading update earlier in the week. Movement, however, was minimal. Anglo slipped 5 cent, to close at €12.95, while AIB was down 1 cent, at €20.94. Bank of Ireland was unchanged at €15.30.

C&C was one of the few gainers, ending the day up 15 cent, or 1.4 per cent, at €10.65.

Donegal Creameries said its pretax profits exceeded €3 million in the first half.The shares rose 15 cent, or 3.5 per cent, to close at €4.45.