Profit taking that followed the first flurry of interim results from leading stocks helped knock 13.66 points off the Iseq, which closed at 8,116.76 after a busy day's trading yesterday.

There was plenty of corporate news for investors to chew on, with Kerry Group, Kingspan and Irish Life & Permanent all reporting results yesterday.

Building materials group Kingspan was the star turn of the day, after reporting a 34 per cent increase in profits to €83.4 million for the six-month period.

Investors responded by wading in and buying 3.6 million shares in Dublin, sending the price to highs of €15.42 before it closed €1.17 or 8.25 per cent up at €15.35. Kerry's results were flatter, and the food group warned in May that energy costs would hit its half-year results. The company reported a 1.5 per cent increase in trading profits to €162 million.

There were no surprises in its announcement and the stock shed 10 cent to close at €17.45, a dip that traders said was partly due to profit taking.

Irish Life & Permanent's figures were more of a mixed bag, but its life and pensions business showed a strong performance, which pleased investors and Davy upgraded its end-year earnings forecast by 3.5 per cent.

However, investors had factored in the likelihood of a good performance into the price, and began taking their profits. The stock finished 25 cent off at €19.95. Dealers pointed out it has had a good run lately and attached no real importance to the slip. Anglo Irish Bank issued a trading statement predicting stronger than expected full-year earnings, but dropped 41 cent to end the day at €12.69. Elsewhere, AIB bucked the trend for European banks and added 20 cent to close at €20.70. Bank of Ireland shed six cent to close at €14.70.

There was also some interest in Paddy Power, due to announce its interims today. It closed three cent up at €14.30.