Dublin reportThe Irish market edged higher yesterday, just reaching a closing record as, across the water, the FTSE hit a 5½-year high.

The Iseq's main components, the financials, were generally quiet, with little news to push them onward.

Luckily though, this gave some of the smaller stocks the chance to shine for a change.

Waterford Wedgwood, which rarely gets a mention because of the low value of its shares, was in demand yesterday with 57 million units changing hands.

The company presented at a Dublin conference for small and mid-cap stocks organised by its broker, Davy, where it reiterated positive comments made at the group's agm earlier in the month. That may have helped contribute to the interest with the shares jumping 6.3 per cent, though they are still only worth almost seven cent.

The other big move also came from one of the minnows, this time Providence Resources, whose 8 per cent gain saw the stock end the day just short of 7 cent. As many as 7.2 million units traded.

Interest continued in Ryanair as the stock pushed ahead eight cent, to end the day at €8.90. One dealer said the stock, which was likely to benefit from the fall in the price of jet fuel, usually performs well in the run-up to its results. Second-quarter figures are due for the low-cost airline next month.

Elsewhere, CRH slipped 12 cent, to close at €27.18, a decline dealers described as "holding up well" given some negative sentiment in the building sector in the US. Good buying interest was reported around the €27 level.

Irish Estates hit a new record, closing at €4.60, a gain of five cent on its prior closing price.

Another good performer was United Drug, which added 12 cent, or 3.4 per cent, to end the day at €3.70.