Having proved resilient throughout much of the day, the Dublin stock exchange finished the week just over 1 per cent lower.
The direction of the index mirrored the trend in Europe which saw stock markets dip in afternoon trading on the back of disappointing employment figures from the US which showed the economy shed more jobs than expected last month. Despite resurging somewhat in mid-afternoon, the ISEQ finished off 34 points, with most stocks across the board finishing in the red.
Bank of Ireland was again one of the most actively traded stocks as investors looked ahead to interim results from the bank due next Wednesday. Nonetheless the bank fell off at the end of the session to shed almost 5 per cent at just under 83 cent.
AIB continued to see minimal investor interest, with the market taking a wait and see approach until more clarification is forthcoming on the company's proposed disposals. The stock finished off 1.8 per cent at €0.92.
Volumes were low in Irish Life & Permanent amid rumbling concerns about Permanent TSB's funding position. However it was one of the few stocks to finish in the black adding just over a half a per cent on the day to finish at €1.85.
Index-heavyweight CRH shed close to 2 per cent on the day, in line with group peers across Europe. Grafton also fell, shedding 3 per cent to finish at €2.83. Kingspan bucked the trend of its industry peers. The insulation group climbed more than 1.5 per cent to close at €5.77.
C & C failed to mount a recovery following a 3 per cent fall on Thursday on the back of a fairly flat trading statement. It shed 0.7 per cent to end at €3.15.
Food stocks continued to hold their own, amid good results from US peers and food companies which had positive implications for both Kerry and Glanbia's operations there. Kerry Group finished flat at €24.90, having reached an all-time high during the previous session. Glanbia finished the day marginally higher at €3.41.
