Market Report: It was a flat day in Dublin yesterday, with thin post-Thanksgiving trade in the US offering little in the way of inspiration to any European market.
AlB managed to end the week on a high note after attracting some positive analyst comment in London. The bank, which had been losing ground since Monday, finished at 12.35, up 25 cents on volume of almost five million shares.
Bank of Ireland attracted about half as much business as it fell four cents to 10.30. The bank said it had bought back 150,000 shares at 10.32 on Thursday. The shares will be held as treasury stock.
Anglo Irish Bank also fell back yesterday, despite continued positive reaction to Wednesday's results. Dealers said profit-taking could be blamed for a 30-cent drop to 11.30.
Irish Life & Permanent was weaker too, losing 25 cents to end at 11.75. First Active dropped one cent to 6.14 as the period of opportunity for hedge funds on the bank's takeover draws towards its close.
Waterford Wedgwood was the busiest stock on the day, with almost 18 million shares, or 1.5 per cent of the company, changing hands. Shares finished unchanged at 28 cents. NCB remarked that the €23.5 million fees attached to the firm's refinancing will mean that progress on debt reduction will have to come from lower capital spending and tighter cash management.
Viridian was hammered in London and Dublin in the wake of its failure to win a chunky power contract, with shares finishing 52 cents weaker at 7.88 on the ISEQ.
Ryanair was also weaker, shedding 13 cents to close at 6.40. Paddy Power moved 19 cents higher to 6.98 amid expectations of a bookie-friendly Budget on Wednesday.
