Dublin Report: Share prices in Dublin were stronger across the board with the market up by almost 2 per cent, with activity picking up after Wall Street opened.

Anglo Irish Bank was one of the main talking points, with the bank bringing in a bumper set of results.

The bank reported a 35 per cent rise in profits to €308 million, ahead of analysts' expectations. The stock was the star performer on the day, gaining 77 cent to end at €9.75. A number of analysts upgraded its earnings forecasts and the bank's indication that a new IFRS accounting regulation would have a lesser impact on the bank's figures also helped the share's progress.

CRH provided some news, with the company giving a trading update at its annual general meeting. It told investors that trading in the first four months had been positive, although poor weather conditions had affected its north European operations. The statement was viewed positively by the market and the shares rose by 23 cent to €19.68.

Meanwhile, Tullow Oil suffered with the stock weakening 7 cent to close at €2.31.

Aside from Anglo Irish Bank, the other financials were in good demand. AIB added 30 cent to €16.40, Bank of Ireland was up 25 cent to €12.08, while Irish Life and Permanent added 15 cent to €13.10.

Jurys Doyle hotels was weaker with the share off 2 cent to €12.10.

Reports suggested that its board is close to deciding to sell all or part of its seven-acre site in Ballsbridge, which is said to be valued at around €200 million.

Eircom recovered some ground, gaining 2 cent to €1.88, C&C put on 6 cent to €3.23, while Elan dropped 25 cent to €4.48.

Waterford Wedgwood announced drastic job cuts and a €100 million rights issue as its latest remedy for the business. The stock gained one cent on the news to 5 cent.

Ryanair was unchanged at €5.70.