Eircom attracts most attention with roadshow

Market report: Trade was patchy on the Iseq yesterday, with much of the volume concentrated in a small number of stocks.

Market report: Trade was patchy on the Iseq yesterday, with much of the volume concentrated in a small number of stocks.

Eircom was by far the busiest name, with 7.4 million shares changing hands. Dealers said the stock was benefiting from response to an investor roadshow, which is ongoing. The stock rose by eight cent to €2.06.

Fyffes was also busy, as investors reacted to a solid set of interim results from the fruit firm. Shares gained two cent to finish at €2.59.

Irish Continental issued results too, with analysts drawing comfort from the numbers but expressing some unease about the uncertain industrial relations backdrop at the firm. Shares gained 28 cent to finish at €10.28.

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Horizon reported an increase in profits but a small drop in turnover, with its shares adding two cent to close at €1.20.

Elan had a very strong day, rising 25 cent to €7.25 as investors continued to bet on Tysabri's return to the market.

Trinity Biotech was also in fine form, rising by 20 cent to €1.60 after directors bought 4.5 million shares.

Another outperformance came in Paddy Power, where shares added 36 cent to close at €14.41.

Kerry was busy again, with about 800,000 shares changing hands at €18.50. It closed at €18.47, down eight cent.

Grafton crept up on decent volume in advance of next week's results. The stock ended four cent higher at €8.90.

Jurys was quieter than of late, with just 115,000 shares changing hands as the stock fell 20 cent to €17.95. The firm's company secretary has become the only director to sell since the current takeover process began. Séamus Daly said yesterday that he had sold 21,757 shares at €18.30, thus raising almost €400,000.

The banks were also quiet. Anglo shed 12 cent to close at €11.25. AIB added four cent to reach €17.98, while Bank of Ireland rose by 12 cent to €13.27. Irish Life & Permanent fell by 15 to €15.00 in the wake of Wednesday's results.

Settlement Day: September 13th

Úna McCaffrey

Úna McCaffrey

Úna McCaffrey is an Assistant Business Editor at The Irish Times