The rollercoaster Iseq index eased into positive territory early today after rising around 1 per cent to 6,406 as the main banking stocks halted a series of losses.
After a week of heavy selling, most Irish-listed stocks opened ahead led by the banks.
At 9am, AIB shares were up over 2 per cent at €13.23, Anglo Irish Bank stocks were marginally ahead at €8.95 and Bank of Ireland shares gained 24 cents to €9.14, a rise of 2.7 per cent.
Irish Life & Permanent, which has suffered some of the more severe falls in recent days, were also up, rising just under 2 per cent to €11.48.
Outside the banks there was good news too for CRH, which moved ahead 16 cents to €22.56.
The other main movers were Providence Resources, up over 8 per cent to €0.08; Ovoca Gold, up 2 cents to €0.18; and DCC, up over 2 per cent to €16.94.