MARKET REPORT: Activity in Waterford Wedgwood was the strongest in some time after it reported results yesterday that were well received. The share raced ahead seven cents to 47 cents in the aftermath of the figures only to give up those gains and end the session unchanged in heavy trade.

Directors led the charge with Mr David Sculley buying 250,000 shares at 43.5 cents to bring his holding to 965,000 and Mr Kevin McGoran purchasing 35,000 shares at 45 cents to double his stake in the group. Company secretary Mr Pat Dowling acquired 100,000 shares at 44 cents to bring his holding to 231,230.

Among the financials, there was strong interest on both sides in Bank of Ireland, which reports figures today. The figures are expected to be good, with one trader saying: "Michael Soden has to show that the core business is strong while he is running around trying to make acquisitions."

AIB finished five cents ahead at €14.10 with Anglo Irish giving up three cents to €6.52 and Irish Life & Permanent three cents up on €12.23. First Active advanced strongly as buyers emerged following recent presentations to analysts.

There was some selling off of Galen Holdings after it posted strong results as investors took some profits following the surge in the stock in recent days. The pharmaceutical group retreated eight cents to €7.32. DCC is also slipping back following recent figures, giving up another 10 cents yesterday to €10.15.

Irish Continental was on the move again, gaining another 30 cents to €6.65, just a day after the company bought back 50,000 shares for cancellation at €6.40 - the second such trade in successive sessions and the third this month during which almost 230,000 have been acquired.

Mr Dermot Desmond was again in the market for Dunloe stock buying up 262,582 shares, again at 44 cents. E-learning group Riverdeep climbed five cents to €1.25, still far short of the level at which brokers believe a bid will emerge, if at all. Volumes were strong again, with almost 11.4 million shares traded.