IRISH shares finished the day slightly stronger yesterday evening, although trade was light with activity dampened as Wall Street closed for the Independence Day bank holiday.

"It was very quiet with New York out," said one trader.stocks, but it became very dull in the afternoon."'

One analyst said a sense that the London market was "drifting" after a good week had also contributed to the post-luncheon torpor.

The main banking shares were the focus of interest, with Allied Irish Banks edging down about a penny to close at 543p. Bank of Ireland rose through the day from its start of 753p and closed up 4 3/4p at the sterling equivalent of 757 3/4p. Anglo-Irish Bank also saw interest, and closed up 1p to close at 87p.

Irish Life saw little movement, and closed down 1p at 340p, while Hibernian climbed 2p to end on 367p.

Among the industrial stocks, Smurfit rose 2p to end at 193p, while CRH stayed static at 700p. Independent Newspapers gained 5p to end at 400p, and DCC shares gained an identical amount, rising from 400p to end at 405p.

Traders reported some interest in Waterford Foods, with speculation that the proposed mega-merger with Avonmore was edging closer to a successful conclusion. A special shareholder meeting next Friday will decide the matter. Shares in the agri-food group rose 3p to end the week at 145p.

Elsewhere in the sector, Greencore fell 5p to 320p, while Fyffes dropped 2p to 92p.