Dublin report: The shares held steady, adding just 2 cent, or 0.2 per cent, to close at €9.44. Aer Lingus also added 2 cent, equal to 0.7 per cent of its value, to close at €2.73 on a day that dealers described as "drifty".

DCC was a gainer, though the five cent climb was negligible when compared with the 6 per cent rise seen on Monday after the group reported better than expected first-half results. The shares closed at €23.30.

Bank of Ireland treaded water, slipping just 13 cent, or 0.8 per cent, to close at €15.77 ahead of its results tomorrow. Dealers said they would have expected a stronger run into the results announcement, but that the stock was simply trading in line with the rest of the European banks.

Meanwhile, C&C continued to suffer and dealers said that in the light of the fact that no new data on UK cider sales is expected before the start of next year, the stock is likely to drift in the coming weeks. Yesterday it closed down 12 cent, or 1 per cent, at €11.69.

Tullow lost 6 cent, or almost 1 per cent, and closed at €6.14 despite announcing positive results from drilling in Uganda.

Shares in software group Norkom slipped 2 cent, or 1.1 per cent, to €1.73, despite announcing an increase in pretax profits since listing in Dublin in June.

- Settlement Date November 17th