Investors hold their fire pending US holiday

Market Report: News of an improved US labour market did little to help stocks in Dublin yesterday, with investors choosing to hold their fire until after the US Labour Day holiday on Monday.

The main financials held their own on reasonably quiet trade, with AIB gaining eight cents to close at €13.26 and Bank of Ireland finishing five cents stronger at €11.29. Anglo Irish was also solid, gaining 10 cents to close at €14.35. Irish Life and Permanent was unchanged at €12.45, with NCB setting a price target of €14.00 on the firm.

CRH suffered from a touch of profit-taking in the wake of Thursday's post-results gains. Shares closed at €18.92, down 13 cents. Fyffes shed two cents in the wake of Thursday's encouraging first-half numbers, closing at €1.82.

Grafton did well in advance of results due next Wednesday, adding 10 cents to close at €7.10. The firm's takeover target, Heiton, was also a positive mover, rising 14 cents to €6.64. This is just beneath the Grafton offer level, if Heiton's most recent dividend is included.

Irish Continental Group also enjoyed a pre-results lift, with shares rising by 37 cents to €9.87. The ferry firm, which suffered last month on concerns over oil prices, will report on Thursday.

Jurys Doyle was weaker, falling 15 cents to €10.55 on low volume. The hotel firm reports interims on Tuesday.

Also up on Tuesday is Kingspan, which is expected to produce strong numbers. Shares gained 14 cents to close at €5.16.

Elsewhere, Independent News and Media gave up some of its recent strength as it shed three cents to close at €2.06.

DCC closed weaker on quiet trade, dropping 15 cents to €14.30.

IFG was unchanged at €1.05 amid reports that the firm's mortgage joint venture with GE Capital could be running into difficulties.

Ryanair was also steady, closing unchanged at €4.31 after posting solid passenger numbers for August. It said it had carried 2.57 million people, up from 2.14 million in August last year.