European markets managed to shrug off some of the jitters reverberating from Dubai, and some of that confidence filtered through to the Iseq today, which gained about 1.5 per cent.
Brokers noticed continuing good buying interest in drinks manufacturer C&C, following the company’s announcements yesterday that it is acquiring the Gaymer Cider company in the UK. The stock added another 8 cent to €2.88.
Index bellweather CRH also enjoyed a strong session, boosted by positive construction figures released in the US this afternoon. The cement stock finished at €17.33, a gain on the day of more than 3 per cent, or 55 cent.
Some buyers also came into no-frills airline Ryanair in the afternoon session, pushing the stock up by about 1.5 per cent - or 4 cent - to €2.81. Elsewhere in the aviation sector, Aer Lingus shed more than 3 per cent - about 2 cent - to 53 cent.
DCC’s share price had tumbled more than 8 per cent since it reported its first-half results on November 11th, but the industrial holdings group was back on form today, pushing ahead by 6.5 per cent - or €1.16 - to €19.12.
Although AIB said earlier today that it has agreed not to make payments on some securities while the European Commission assesses its restructuring plan, one broker noted that there wasn’t a “major” reaction to this news. The stock closed down slightly at €1.52.
Bank of Ireland was more or less flat at €1.62.
Irish Life & Permanent came under a little bit of pressure, and stood out as an underperformer on what was a largely positive day on the Dublin market. It finished at €3.18, down more than 2 per cent, or almost 7 cent.
In London, the FTSE 100 Index staged a marked recovery today as it soared 2.3 per cent. France’s Cac 40 closed 2.4 per cent ahead, while the Dax in Germany lifted by nearly 3 per cent.
(Additional reporting - PA)