The Dublin market moved ahead yesterday in relatively thin trading.

The financial stocks enjoyed mixed fortunes. Bank of Ireland made some progress rising to €7.60, up four cents while AIB shares dipped lower in early trading but ended the day largely unchanged a fraction under at €10.80. Anglo Irish Bank was weaker closing at €2.53, down 12 cents on the day on the back of profit-taking following record profit growth at the bank in the first half of 2000. First Active was also down, ending the day at €2.10, down from €2.15 while Irish Life & Permanent was one and a half cents weaker at €9.34 1/2.

Among the leaders, CRH gained good ground following upbeat comments at the company's annual general meeting on Wednesday. The shares rose by 60 cents to €19.40 in active trading. Smurfit, however, was unable to make progress, with the shares down over eight and a half cents to €2.28.

The main development yesterday - news of the merger between Galen Holdings and Nasdaq-listed Warner Chilcott - was positively received by the markets.

Shares in Galen rose on the back of the announcement closing at £6.30 sterling (€10.90), up 40 cents.

Elan traded down from its overnight rate of €50, closing at €49.50p, down 50 cents. Eircom improved, adding five cents to €3.85. Other shares traded included Dunloe Ewart, which was one cent better at 38 cents, Waterford Wedgwood, up three cents to €1.10 and Riverdeep, which made some progress, adding 50 cents on the day to close at €5.

Independent News & Media lost 10 cents falling to €8.85, while Horizon put on 35 cents to €10.05