AFTER a bright start which saw the ISEQ rise above the 2,400 barrier, share prices in Dublin plunge after the early collapse on Wall Street. But, after the New York market rallied, the Irish market took on a steadier tone and most of the big three shares, which accounted for most of the fall in the ISEQ were all drawing bids at their closing levels.
AIB closed down 6p on 330p while Bank of Ireland and CRH suffered more severe falls, closing down 11p and 12p on 435p and 536p respectively. Smurfit dealt up to a new "post Tiger" high of 154p before the Wall Street slump brought the share to close down 1p on the day on 151 1/2p.
The star performer on the day - at least in terms of turnover - was Greencore, which closed up 3p on 300p after heavy trading in Dublin and London. In London alone, over three million Greencore shares traded as the share was bid up 9p to 313p sterling.
Other food stocks were mixed with Avonmore going as high as 157p in early trade before closing unchanged on 150p. Kerry was 2 1/2p firmer on 542 1/2p while Waterford Foods lost some of Thursday's big gains and closed 2p lower on 110p. Against the trend, Abbey jumped 15p to 170p but Golden Vale drifted 1 1/2p to 78p. Independent fell almost 10p to 460p while Irish Life added 2p to 255p.
After the Thursday profits warning, Unidare finally dealt and fell as low as 220p before closing down 69p on the day on 225p. Even at that level there are few buyers for the stock.
