Market Report: The Irish market put in a very poor performance yesterday, even dragging behind the lacklustre show displayed by its European counterparts.

While around the world concerns over the escalating violence in the Middle East pushed up the price of oil and deterred investors in some parts, Ireland continued to fall despite having limited exposure to oil and a lack of stock-specific news.

The Iseq lost 100.22 points, or 1.37 per cent, to end the day at 7,198.19.

NCB Stockbrokers issued a report outlining its favoured stocks for the rest of the year. However, none of them managed to act like star performers, with CRH, one of its recommended stocks, putting in a particularly dismal show.

The financials saw strong selling interest, with Anglo Irish Bank leading the way down. The shares dropped 30 cent, or 2.7 per cent, closing at €11, with as many as four million shares changing hands.

Allied Irish Bank, meanwhile, was down 28 cent, or 1.6 per cent, at €17.35, while Bank of Ireland dropped 12 cent, or 0.9 per cent, to end the day at €13.23. Almost two million and 1.5 million shares were traded respectively in the two stocks.

Elsewhere Kerry Group was badly hit. Shares in the food group dropped 65 cent, or 4.1 per cent, to end the day at €15.25.

Meanwhile, building materials group CRH fell 50 cent, or almost 2 per cent, to close at €24.80.

Grafton also struggled and continued the negative performance it put in at the end of last week. The shares fell 30 cent, or almost 3 per cent, to end the day at €9.80.

The surge in the price of oil to a new record - although it did fall back later in the day - hurt Ryanair, with the airline's stock slipping eight cent, or 1.1 per cent, to close at €7.20.

A few stocks managed to escape the negativity, with DCC rising 15 cent, or 0.8 per cent, to end the day at €19.15. Fyffes was unchanged at €1.36, while Greencore closed up one cent, or 0.2 per cent, at €4.13.