The ISEQ gained steadily this afternoon to close 32 points ahead on euro 5,587.53 driven into positive territory by a strong performance by Elan.
Having kicked off the new year with a fall to euro 47.00 on January 10th, Elan shares have steadily recovered and closed today on euro 50.72, a gain of 172 cents.
The Dublin-based pharmaceutical company was listed as the "A+" healthcare company on the Forbes Global magazine's A-list of the "400 best companies" last week.
Elsewhere, financial stocks were mixed with AIB slipping down to euro 13.03, a fall of 13 cents while Bank of Ireland firmed 18 cents to euro to 9.83. 9.65 Irish Life and Permanent dropped 15 points to euro 12.10.
Construction stocks CRH and Abbey were both weaker at close, falling to 18.60 and 3.70 respectively.
Iona Technologies shares remained rooted on euro 60.00 following a fall of 200 cents in early trading while fellow tech stock Horizon gained 10 cents to euro 7.10.
Leading London shares finished a lacklustre session just in positive territory, with new ideas few and far between late in the day - largely due to the closure of Wall Street for the Martin Luther King Day holiday, dealers said.
Investors, once again, flirted with 'old economy' stocks, especially the oil sector ahead of OPEC's key meeting in Vienna later this week - at which production cuts are expected to be agreed in order to ensure an elevated price for crude.