The Irish stock market ended the day on a high note, lifted by a better performance on overseas markets as a dip in oil prices brought relief to investors on both sides of the Atlantic.

The ISEQ index closed 45.88 points, or 0.87 per cent, higher, although volumes remained light amid a dearth of corporate news.

Among the best performers on the day were CRH, which closed 30 cents higher at €18.50 and Fyffes, which added five cents or nearly 3 per cent to €1.78.

Elan also had a good day after some recent share price weakness, closing 45 cents or 2.8 per cent higher in Dublin at €16.45.

Dealers said financial stocks als benefited from the firmer tone in international markets. AIB gained five cents to €13.00, Bank of Ireland was up by nine cents to €10.84 while Anglo Irish Bank added 10 cents to €13.50.

Despite the recent strength of oil prices, and the announcement that it had added to its oil interests in Gabon, Tullow Oil closed two cents lower at €1.82.

Independent News & Media failed to get a lift from good circulation figures for its Independent newspaper in the UK, closing just one cent higher at €1.92.

Iona Technologies, which holds its annual meeting on Wednesday, gave up two cents to €2.68 despite an upbeat note by company broker Davy.

The broker noted that Iona's share price has declined by nearly 40 per cent year to date and by more than 60 per cent from its high in March amid concerns about the success of its latest product, Artix.

"Even assuming Artix fails completely, we estimate that the core CORBA business combined with cash balances justifies a price of €5.50," Davy said.

"For the moment, we assume moderate success for Artix, which implies a price target of €8.00," the broker added.

In the secondline sector, South Wharf, which was formerly known as Ardagh, added a further 15 cents or nearly 9 per cent to €1.85 as it continued to build on recent gains. Dublin ReportSettlement Day: August 19th