WITH the US non farm payroll figures coming in ahead of expectations - at least as far as markets are concerned, the Irish stock market nudged ahead marginally. Few in the market, however, are convinced that the current uncertainty is over and markets are likely to remain unstable for some time to come.

Most of the leaders pushed ahead after the jobs report, with AIB up 3p to 428p and Bank of Ireland up 6p to 617p. Other financials were mixed with Irish Life 2p stronger on 320p despite its worsening industrial relations problems and Irish Permanent down 5p on 585p.

Food stocks were mixed.

Golden Vale fell 5p to 53p ahead of its results next Tuesday, bringing the share to its lowest level since the infamous World Cup profits warning in 1994. There will be intense interest in the results, especially in the exceptional write offs. These net writeoffs are likely to be limited by the gains on the reported sale of Golden Vale's stake in IAWS.

Greencore - besieged by beet farmers on one side and sugar factory on the other - was unchanged on 350p, while Kerry first dealt up 10p to 640p before finally closing down 10p on the day on 620p. Avonmore - with a "buy" recommendation from Hoare Govett - was unchanged on 230p while Waterford Foods gained 3p to 75p.

CRH closed up 7p on 627p while Smurfit was unchanged on 164p ahead of results next week.