MARKET REPORT: Elan had another day in the sun yesterday, with shares rising 22 per cent to €10.65 by the close after Wednesday's 27 per cent gain.

Settlement Day: February 24th

The sense in the market is that the stock has further to go as analysts move to raise their price targets to reflect the potential of its Antegren drug.

Price growth was more pedestrian elsewhere, with the market as a whole up 1.3 per cent.

The financials were mixed as Bank of Ireland failed to hold on to the previous day's winning streak and Anglo Irish Bank continued to be beaten up in the wake of last week's placing. Bank of Ireland finished at €11.15, down five cents, while Anglo fell by 10 cents to €12.63.

Irish Life & Permanent moved strongly in the opposite direction, gaining 30 cents to close at €14.05 in advance of results due on March 3rd.

AIB, which will report its full-year numbers on Tuesday, climbed nine cents to €13.45.

Also reporting next Tuesday is Kerry Group, which closed 2.3 per cent stronger at €14.55. Analysts expect a good full-year performance but have pointed to the firm's currency pressures as a possible dampener.

Fellow food stock Greencore attracted some attention as it added 12 cents to finish at €3.35 on sound volume.

Fyffes also had a busy day as shares climbed one cent to €1.71.

Barlo was in vogue once more, with some 4.3 million shares traded, 3.6 million of which crossed in one block. Mr Dermot Desmond's investment firms held 7.7 per cent of the MBO-target before the market opened. Barlo's shares continue to hover above the buyout offer of 40 cents, closing at 41 cents, down one, last night.

McInerney remained under some pressure in the wake of last Tuesday's results, with shares declining seven cents to €5.16.

CRH was steady before closing one cent weaker at €16.89 on good volume.

Dragon Oil won back some of Wednesday's losses by rising by 6 per cent to 50 cents. Iona Technologies rose 30 cents.