With overseas markets regaining some ground after a week of losses, the Irish market had its best day for some time with the index up more than 2 per cent.
That increase was accounted for by sold gains by three stocks - Elan, CRH and Bank of Ireland. But in the final full trading week, volumes in Dublin were low and are likely to remain that way between now and the end of the year, with many fund managers already having closed their books.
CRH has had a topsy turvy few weeks with the market finding it difficult to decide where it should trade. That volatility continued yesterday with the stock trading up as high as €19.80 before ending 48 cents higher on €19.62.
Elan was 90 cents higher in Dublin on €47.50, but the bulk of the trading in the shares is on the NYSE where the stock was up $1.79 in the opening session on $43.14 with almost a million shares having traded by midday.
Turnover in financial shares was very low but Bank of Ireland gained 28 cents to €9.75 while AIB edged ahead six cents to €11.81.
Among industrials, Waterford Wedgwood was the star and jumped seven cents to €0.90. Despite a negative trading statement some weeks ago, Waterford has regained most of its losses since it hit a 2001 low of €0.55 in the days after the September 11th bombing.
Independent gained four cents to €1.94, Power Leisure was 12 cents firmer on €4.07, while Greencore dropped 12 cents to €2.68.
Technology stocks on Nasdaq were firm across the board with Iona, Parthus and Riverdeep all higher in the opening session.
