A week dominated by the Telecom Eireann flotation had a fitting conclusion with dealings yesterday again being centred on the new stock. Volumes were down on Wednesday and dealings were more measured but the stock still moved up 13 cents to €4.75 (£3.74).
The rise of three per cent, although modest, consolidates Thursday's surge, making for an overall rise of 22 per cent on the €3.90 (£3.06) opening price as Irish institutions built up their holdings.
CRH, the builders materials company, provided the other major news as investors continued to react positively to its latest acquisition, Thompson-McCully in the US, and last Monday's purchase of two New Jersey firms.
CRH was "powering ahead", according to one dealer, and beat a path to a new record price of €19.28 (£15.18), up 18 cents on the day and €1.18, or 7 per cent, on the week.
The banks eased back in profit taking, although in thin trade, with AIB shaving 28 cents to close at €13.425 (£10.57) and Bank of Ireland losing 15 cents, closing at €17.90 (£14.10).
Among the other financials, First Active was back 5 cents to €3.35 (£2.64) and Irish Life & Permanent 10 cents lower at €11.30 (£8.90), but Hibernian gain 13 cents to close at €7.68 (£6.05).
Powerscreen, which has two former exectives facing an investigation by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland, arising out of accounting irregularities last year, was 1/2p to £1.93 1/2 in London. ITG was up 30 cents to €5.80 (£4.57).
Smurfit, meanwhile, eased back 3 cents to €2.55 (£2.01), Crean by 2 cents to €1.28 (£1.01) and Ryanair by 1.5 cents to €9.715 (£7.65).
