With international markets showing a more positive tone, prices in Dublin nudged ahead in generally thin trading. The respite from the recent turmoil was welcome but dealers are not assuming that the recent uncertainty is at an end, especially with the Fed's open markets committee meeting tomorrow to decide on interest rates.

At this stage, the betting is that the Fed will hold rates at current levels.

Financial shares attracted interest, and Bank of Ireland saw some demand ahead of interim results on Thursday. The shares were up 5p on 865p, while AIB was 3p higher on 565p.

Leading industrials were dull, with CRH unchanged on 783p from last Friday's 706p sterling close. Smurfit was unchanged on 183p despite a $70 million sell-off in the US.

Some of the biggest turnover in an Irish stock took place in Minmet on the London market where speculation on a gold find in Devon has led to a surge of interest in the exploration minnow.

Minmet took advantage of the interest in the stock and placed 20.3 million new shares at 4 1/2p sterling to raise £913,500 sterling for exploration. At the close in London, Minmet was trading at 5 1/2p sterling.

Elsewhere, out-of-favour Greencore regained some ground with a 4p gain to 307p, IFG was 3p higher on 73p, Ryanair was 10p lower on 325p ahead of interim results tomorrow, while Tullow was 4 1/2p higher and well-bid on 136p.