With New York closed for Independence Day and the World Cup quarter-final diverting the attention of dealers in Europe, there was little to provide any great stimulus for trading in Dublin, although the market closed up on the day.
But the pattern of the past few days remained unchanged with continued strong demand for financial shares and industrial stocks with a Far East exposure remaining under pressure.
Among the financials, gains were modest compared to some of the jumps in recent trading, but most closed ahead. AIB was up 3p on £10.61, Bank of Ireland up 10p to £15.38, Anglo Irish 4p firmer on 200p, and Irish Permanent 20p higher on 880p.
CRH remained the pick of the front-line industrials. It gained 10p to £10.37 - partly on the back of some positive British media reaction to its latest acquisitions announcement.
Fears about the Far East left Smurfit 1p easier on 217p while Independent was unchanged on 375p.
Jurys continued to benefit from its excellent results and the shares jumped 20p to a new high of 670p. Elsewhere, seldom-traded Abbey lost 40p to 390p and Grafton lost 26p to £17.74.
Green was 6p firmer on 505p as it declared its £140 million bid for Trafford Park Estates final.
Ryanair gained 22p to 530p, a timely move given the imminent placing and listing on the London market.
