STRONGER than expected US industrial production figures, may have been instrumental in driving the London market down 37 points but strong demand for some of the industrials contributed to the 12 point rise in the ISEQ.
The US figures may have reinforced the view that US interest rates have bottomed, but this time there was barely a flicker of response on Wall Street despite another fall in treasury bond prices.
The main feature in Dublin was heavy demand for CRH in both Dublin and London and the share closed up 12p on 544p and has now regained virtually all the losses of earlier this week.
The other highlight was a large after hours deal in Avonmore which saw the share jump 11p to an all time high of 155p. Dealers were curious about this sudden jump but believe that one institution found itself underweight in the shares and paid up for size.
Elsewhere, financials drifted and remained pretty weak and subject to further weakness. AIB was 2p better on 317p but was offered at that level while Bank of Ireland drifted 1p to 411p.
Among the second liners, Independent gained 15p to 460p, while Tullow was 1 1/2p higher on, 76 1/1p after heavy trading another four million shares traded in London as rumours continue about takeover moves and good results from current drilling.
Unidare jumped 5p to 235p but the dealing came ahead of the disclosure that Mr Dermot Desmond's IIU and Friends Provident have been recent buyers of the stock.
