The ISEQ moved into positive territory for the first time this week following encouraging news from Bank of Ireland.
At 11.19, the ISEQ was nearly half a percentage point ahead on 4271.37, with Bank of Ireland and AIB leading the gains.
Bank of Ireland shares were up 18 cents at €11.35 following its full-year earnings report. The bank reported pre-tax profit of €1.013 billion for the 12 months to March, down from €1.085 billion a year earlier after taking a charge to restructure its British businesses.
The company also said it also planned to continue its share-buyback programme.
Volumes in BoI shares were just over one million although that was on a fraction of the 6.2 million AIB shares traded; AIB's shares were five cents ahead at €13.75. AIB's Polish subsidiary, Bank Zachodni WBK, today reported a first quarter net profit of 48.4 million zloty, down 33 per cent on last year.
Among the other financials Anglo Irish Bank slipped back marginally to €7.10 while Irish Life crept ahead five cents to €10.25.
Power generating company Viridian moved ahead more than 5 per cent to €7.5O after reporting solid full-year results. The Northern Irish utilities company operates the Huntstown power plant in north Dublin.
Ryanair contributed to the positive mood and climbed 5 cents to €5.85 Elan shares rose 14 cents to €3.98 by the midsession.
