Iseq falls as investors remain wary

The Iseq index was down 37.08 points or 0.61 per cent as business on the Dublin market closed today.

Dealers said most of the activity was in the large stocks. Anglo Irish Bank was down 3.5 per cent as investors continued to be wary of the banks.

Packaging specialist Smurfit Kappa traded down to €6.30 on the back of "persistent selling".

In London, the FTSE 100 index of leading shares was down 1.5 per cent at 6068.1 after a decline led by building companies and banks.

European stocks fared better today. The Dow Jones Stoxx 600 Index, which covers leading shares in 18 main markets, including Ireland, added 0.85, or 0.3 per cent, to 321 by 4.30 pm.

Utilities Eon and RWE led the rally following a recommendation from UBS analysts to buy shares in the sector as power prices increase.