Aer Lingus soars early but comes back to earth at close

DUBLIN REPORT: Iseq:3,016.53 (+0.50) Settlement Date:January 29th

THE DUBLIN market took its lead from Europe yesterday, reversing falls in early trading to climb steadily throughout the day, ending the day in positive territory, though only marginally so.

According to traders, it was another directionless day, with volumes very light.

Aer Lingus provided some news flow for the stock market, releasing a statement to the stock exchange ahead of its investor day in London yesterday. Having gained over 2.5 per cent at one stage the share price ended flat on the day. Most analysts noted that the statement contained “no surprises”, while the prediction of lower revenues in 2010 served to dampen investor enthusiasm.

Rival airline Ryanair was one of the most active stocks on the Iseq yesterday, with more than five million shares traded, ahead of results next Monday. The stock ended the day fractionally lower at €3.42.

Exploration company Kenmare Resources was flat on the day, having made gains during the session, after it announced that production at its mineral mine in Mozambique rose by 22 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2009.

Traders noted some profit-taking on Tullow Oil as uncertainty continued about the company’s next move in Uganda. It lost 1.3 per cent, closing at €14.13.

Investor interest in banking stocks remained tentative, with volumes very low. Bank of Ireland shed 2.8 per cent to end the session at €1.38, though this was on well below average volumes. AIB saw slightly more action, but it also finished lower at €1.35, a drop of 1.3 per cent. Irish Life Permanent continued to detach itself from the performance of the other two financials, gaining 1.5 per cent on the day to close at €3.55.

The Iseq benefited from a relatively strong performance by construction giant CRH, the heaviest constituent on the Iseq, which rose 1.5 per cent to close at €17.88.