The Irish stock market ended the week on a soft note as profit-taking, the end of the tax year and weakness in some other European markets took their toll. The ISEQ index of shares clambered off its earlier lows to close at 5,330.56, down nearly 12 points, after earlier dipping below the 5,300 level.
News that the number of jobless in the US rose last month caused bond markets to soar but after initially rising on the news, most European stock markets headed into retreat as investors took profits after their recent record run.
Dublin proved no exception to the weaker trend and dealers said much of the afternoon activity was down to private clients.
"Volumes were appalling. We hardly paid for the lights today," one equity dealer said.
Most of the leading stocks were unchanged or slightly weaker with financial stocks generally faring worse than industrial shares.
Bank of Ireland lost 10p to £14.35, AIB was unchanged at 940p, Irish Life also held steady at 700p while Irish Permanent shed 2.6p to 962.4p. Anglo Irish Bank slipped 2p to 172p.
Among the leading industrial shares, CRH slipped 15p to £11, Smurfit shed 3p to 217p in a late sterling deal while Kerry was unchanged at £10.
Fyffes, one of the star performers of the week, put on an further 2p to finish the week at 192p.
Following its maiden results earlier this week, Avonmore Waterford slipped 2p to end the week at 330p.
