Dublin report

Market report: On a quiet day Anglo Irish managed a reasonable trading volume and end the day up 15 cent at €12.67.

A few other stocks traded at meaningful volumes but overall it was a very quiet day, with the low level of trading in the morning slowing to a trickle by the afternoon.

"The year-end lull is coming in and people are taking their feet off the gas," was how one trader described it.

Globally the markets were positive and this had a knock-on effect in Dublin where overall the day ended positively, if dull.

AIB was quiet in comparison with Anglo but finished the day up 13 cent at €18.38. Bank of Ireland traded less well and ended the day barely unchanged, at €13.42.

Ryanair did well in terms of volume - on the day that was in it - with the price ending up 12 cent at €8.30.

Some buyers, perhaps hopeful of a rally in January, were interested in CRH, which ended the day up 12 cent at €24.43. A trading statement is due to be issued by CRH on January 4th.

Among the smaller companies C&C did well in terms of activity, perhaps fuelled by market rumours that it would announce good Christmas sales of its Magner cider brand in the UK. It ended the day up 5 cent, at €5.35.

Other companies that traded did so at volumes so low that the prices reached may be of little meaning.

Abbey end up 20 cent at €10.25 on slim volumes, with interest probably sparked by the results due to be announced on January 12th.

After its good run of recent times Grafton was left down 9 cent on the day at €9.15 after some profit-taking.

Kerry came in with a solid performance on slim volumes, ending the day up 19 cent at €18.60.

Paddy Power ended the day up 20 cent, to €12.30. FBD dropped 40 cent, to €36.70.

The market is open for a half day today, closing at 12.30, and is not re-opening until January 3rd.