The stock market closed marginally lower, hit by continued weakness in the banks, although dealers said volumes were relatively subdued on a light day for news.

Settlement Date: November 13th

Both AIB and Bank of Ireland lost 18 cents to close at €14.00 and 10.80 respectively, while Irish Life & Permanent lost 16 cents to €12.44 and First Active was down 15 cents at €4.75.

CRH managed to resist the general weakness, however, to close five cents higher at €12.80.

More than three million Riverdeep shares traded as the stock slid by a further 10 cents to €0.75. Dealers said there was talk in the market that management might be considering a buyout.

Alphyra shares hit a high of €2.18 before slipping back to close unchanged at €1.95 as the market awaited details of a management bid for the company, which is expected next week.

"The shares have been pretty volatile but there is a growing feeling that there is a decent distance between a proposal and the execution of that proposal," one dealer said.

Dunloe shares edged up a cent to €0.45 as it emerged that Mr Dermot Desmond has built up his stake to 16.6 per cent.

Other movers included industrial holding group DCC, which added 20 cents to €10.30 ahead of the release of interim results on Monday. Waterford Wedgwood, which is also due to release half-year figures on Wednesday, did not fare so well, losing two cents to €0.39.

Dealers reported good volumes in Kingspan, with more than 800,000 shares changing hands, although the stock was unchanged at €1.90.