Given the euphoric response on international market to the latest mega-merger in the pharmaceutical sector and Hong Kong's extraordinary 14 per cent recovery overnight, it was no great surprise that the Irish market hit another new high, with a flood of money looking for a home, driving financial shares in particular into new record territory.Demand for the banks was enormous and Bank of Ireland - which has underperformed slightly in recent trading - soared 53p to a new £11.85 high while AIB was also in strong demand, jumping 25p to a new 800p high. Other financials also benefited with Anglo Irish up 4p to 155p, Irish Life 10p stronger on 480p and Irish Permanent up 15p on 890p.Industrials were in less demand but still well-bid and CRH gained 10p to 880p while Smurfit showed tentative signs of breaking out of its narrow trading range with a 5p jump to 207p. Elan did not trade in Dublin but was up $2 to $54 in New York - due mainly to the pharmaceutical merger-mania.Fyffes hit a hit of 142p before closing up 5p on 140p as the McCann family bought another 1.1 million shares to take their stake to 9.6 per cent. Golden Vale was 2p higher with 107p with continuing speculation on an acquisition of Rye Valley Foods while Kingspan was 5p higher on 285p with talk of a substantial acquisition in the Czech Republic doing the rounds.