Settlement Date: January 8th: Shares continued their winning start to 2003 yesterday on the back of overnight gains in New York. Dublin was ahead 1.38 per cent to 4,165.96 on the day, bringing its advance over the first two sessions of the new year to 4.28 per cent. Its performance was in contrast to most of the major European bourses, which were down on the day.
Traders said volume was still seasonably low, with prices moving up sharply after being marked down towards the end of last year. "People are looking for an excuse to buy," said one dealer. "There is a lot of cash out there."
Ryanair led the charge, rising almost 5 per cent or 33 cents to €7.23 following news that passenger numbers in December were up 64 per cent on the previous year and the company's reiteration of previous guidance on performance.
The financials, too, had a strong day with Bank of Ireland moving ahead 17 cents to €10.25 and AIB up five cents to €13.45. Irish Life & Permanent notched gains of 29 cents to €10.90 and First Active was 15 cents stronger at €5.75. Anglo Irish went against the trend and was one of the few ISEQ constituents to record a loss on the day, falling five cents to €6.93.
Elsewhere, CRH was 14 cents stronger in some of the healthiest turnover of the session and Kerry up 25 cents to €13.
Abbey, Jurys and Iona, all of which report interim figures next week were marked up by 20, 15 and 25 cents respectively to €4.80, €7.15 and €2.65.
Riverdeep, whose shareholders are still awaiting news of an offer from chairman and chief executive Mr Barry O'Callaghan, shed another five cents to end the week at €1.25.
