Market Report: The market had a busy finish to the week yesterday, with an afternoon programme trade lifting volumes across the board.

The programme was particularly busy in mid-cap stocks, with heavy trade recorded in firms ranging from Glanbia to Unidare. Prices held up well amid the action, with the market as a whole finishing just 0.2 per cent weaker.

Gresham recovered strongly from Thursday's declines, gaining 12 cents to close at €1.22 after the company said takeover talks were still in progress. The takeover consortium has yet to present its hand however. Results are expected from the hotel group later this month.

CRH was steady at €17 as investors continued to digest Tuesday's results. Citigroup Smith Barney put an €18 price target on the stock, which it calls a low-risk investment play.

Grafton rose by two cents to €6.30 in advance of Wednesday's 2003 results. Analysts are expecting growth of some 30 per cent in pre-tax profits.

Kingspan, which is also expected to satisfy the market with full-year results next week, shed one cent to close at €4.36.

IAWS strengthened slightly as investors await interims on Tuesday. Shares in the food company rose one cent to €9.75.

The financials were a touch weaker as a sector, with AIB falling three cents to €12.16 and Bank of Ireland losing 10 cents to close at €10.55. Irish Life & Permanent dropped 15 cents to €13.40. Anglo Irish Bank once again bucked the trend, climbing five cents to €14.20.

The busiest stock on the day was Waterford Wedgwood, where almost 12 million shares changed hands. The closing price was 27 cents, up one cent.

Barlo was active on a smaller scale, as 1.3 million shares were traded. The management buyout target fell one cent to 42 cents.

Unidare dropped 10 cents to €1.55 on programme-related trade. Glanbia was unchanged at €2.51 after some two million shares changed hands.

Fyffes was also busy as it rose four cents to €1.62.