Ireland's benchmark stock index, the ISEQ Index, rose 0.27 per cent at 8.05am.
The index of 64 companies traded on the Irish Stock Exchange rose 14.93 to 5,593.05. Among the stocks in the index, 12 rose, 2 fell and 50 were unchanged.
Gains in the ISEQ Index were led by Allied Irish Banks, Bank Of Ireland and Anglo Irish Bank.
