The market closed 0.05 per cent stronger yesterday, despite weakness in financial stocks which bore the brunt of losses. The ISEQ ended the day at 4,934.70, up 2.53 points. Financial stocks traded down in line with their UK counterparts which were weaker over the day.

Bank of Ireland lost nearly 4 per cent yesterday on strong volumes of nearly 2.5 million shares. It ended the day 22 cents weaker at €8.25. Elsewhere among the financial stocks, Irish Life and Permanent was the other big loser, falling back 42 cents to €10.20 with just under half a million shares traded.

AIB eased back a cent to €9.72 on good volumes of more than 2.2 million shares traded. Anglo Irish Bank lost five cents to close at €3.05, while First Active was unchanged at €2.82.

CRH lost its gains of the previous day, dropping back 20 cents to €16.30 with 1.27 million shares changing hands.

Outside of the bigger stocks, volumes across the board were generally relatively light. There was good interest in food stocks. Fyffes picked up two cents to €1.30, with more than 1.3 million shares changing hands. More than 200,000 Greencore shares were traded, pushing the stock three cents higher to €2.28.

Among the other stocks, Ryanair enjoyed a good day. It advanced 12 cents to €8.98 on a volume of more than 1.3 million shares. A few of the big losers from the previous day's trading recouped some of their losses yesterday. Independent News was 5 per cent firmer, picking up seven cents to €1.59.

But Barlo continued its downward slide, albeit at a slower pace than the previous day when its price was halved. It lost nine cents to close at 30 cents.