THE Irish market took its cue from weaker international trends as many of the leading stocks fell back, dealers said.

Volume during the session was light, and the economic data released yesterday in Dublin and London had no real impact on trading.

AIB - trading ex dividend - closed 2p weaker at 349p, while Bank of Ireland finished the rather lacklustre session unchanged at 450p.

Irish Life lost 4p to close at 240p as investors showed their concern at recent newspaper reports that 100 sales executives with the company are to receive dismissal notices later this week. Irish Permanent also slipped back, closing 2p weaker at 398p.

CRH closed Vip easier at 602p as the company announced that it has spent £245 million so far this year with a series of acquisitions in the United States, Europe and Britain. Most of the acquisitions had been previously announced.

The best performer of the day was Adare Printing which rose 7p to 442p. Dealers said the stock - had been helped by positive news at last week's annual general meeting.

Adare had told shareholders on Friday that the impact of the loss of the £5 million Microsoft printing contract would not be as serious as previously thought. The company has made 50 staff redundant, but had earlier warned that up to 70 jobs would have to go.

Among the food stocks Avonmore finished down 2p at 153p, Greencore closed 5p weaker at 310p and Golden Vale was unchanged at 63p. Fruit and vegetable group Fyffes was 1p better at 105p.

Other movers included IAWS, which fell 5p to 160p, mining group Ivernia which lost a penny to close at 82p, and Kingspan which ended 2p higher to 365p.

Kenmare lost 1p to close at 34p while Minmet was 1/4p weaker at 3p.

Silvermines closed unchanged at 78p as the Pilot Investment Trust announced that it had sold 500,000 shares in the company to reduce its stake from 4.3 per cent to 3.6 per cent.

The gilt market remained steady in quiet trading.