Dublin Report: Shares gained a little ground in Dublin yesterday, although there was little in the way of major domestic news driving business.

Bank of Ireland stopped just shy of its 52-week high of €13, following upbeat comments from chief executive Mr Brian Goggin. However, the stock slipped sharply to end the session, down 10 cents at €12.77.

AIB was quieter than its rival ahead of results next week, although volumes were up slightly on Wednesday. The stock closed on €16.15, up five cents.

Anglo Irish Bank paused for breath at the overnight €20.30 mark, having slipped back to €20.10 in early trading.

Irish Life & Permanent was unspectacular, up five cents in insignificant volume to €14.70.

Elsewhere, CRH had a good day on the back of strong housing numbers from the United States. The share price rebounded from Wednesday's dip, climbing 41 cents to €22.06.

Elan was another to benefit from US newsflow - this time positive reports on the efficacy of its blockbuster multiple sclerosis treatment Tysabri from a two-year monotherapy trial.

The shares rose €1.15 to €22.20 in Dublin, before closing 31 cents firmer on the day at €21.36, with dealers saying that short-sellers had held it back a little.

In percentage terms, the big winner of the session was agribusiness group Glanbia, which was 20 cents, or more than 6.5 per cent ahead, on €3.25.

Among the rest, Eircom was again among the most heavily traded stocks, although volume was down on recent days.

Investors continued to take profits from the share's recent advance, with the price slipping two cents to €2.10.

Drinks giant Diageo reported essentially flat earnings and the stock, which rarely trades in Dublin, slipped five pence in London to 740 pence.

Rival C&C, which will issue a year-end trading statement next week, ended the day where it started on €3.35, having earlier hit €3.40, but business was lacklustre.