The equity market ended higher yesterday as a flurry of acquisitions lifted sentiment. The ISEQ closed up at 2327.08 while the bond market lost ground in the afternoon after a heavy sell off in the US caught traders unawares.

German shares surged to a new closing high for the second day in a row, buoyed by rate cut hopes and a firm dollar, but the London stock market slumped, depressed by a weaker Wall Street.