THE market ended up slightly in a very quiet day yesterday with low volumes.

Dealers said there was little news to provoke the market out of its post bank holiday torpor and international investors kept firmly on the sidelines. "There were no results and no news to drive the market," one dealer said. "It might pick up towards the end of the week after Greencore and Northern Ireland Electricity results on Thursday."

Speculation increased about a possible takeover of UTV after Mercury built up its holdings. The British fund manger now holds 15.44 per cent of the company.

Independent and Crean saw sizeable increases in their prices but dealers said they simply reflected the difficulty in buying the shares. Crean rose 12p to 260p a share and Independent rose 15p to 515p.

Financials also had a fair day.

Bank of Ireland rose 25/8p to 4445/8p while AIB stayed flat at 340p and Irish Life added 1p to 253p.

Kerry rose 2p to 645p, while Fyffes put on 1p to 106p. Greencore also managed a small rise to 302p, up 2p.

Smurfit was the only major stock to lose on the day. It fell 1/2p to 164p.

Celtic Resources failed to trade after it reported pre-tax profits of £1,841 in the year to December 31st, 1995.

The bond markets also suffered from post holiday lethargy, under performing UK gilts.

The 8 per cent bond due 2006 failed to move from 102.10p to yield 7.55 per cent. The 6 per cent bond due 2001 rose slightly to 97.67p to yield 6.92 per cent from 6.96 per cent on Friday.

Traders said they will be keeping a close eye on Thursday's monthly credit data from the Central Bank. The bank indicated last Wednesday that it was worried about the continuing strength in the money supply and private sector credit.

US jobs data on Friday will also be closely watched.