THE stock market fell yesterday, hampered by thin trade and the closure of US markets for the Independence Day holiday. The ISEQ index was down 14.18 points at the close of business.

"The absence of buyers dragged the market down to its lowest level of the week," said one dealer but, like others, he expects it to pick up again if the London market continues its run.

Financial stocks were weak.

AIB fell 5p closing at 323p. Bank of Ireland also saw its share price slide, down 5p to finish at 426p.

Anglo Irish Bank was unchanged at 62p but Irish Life shares were also down, slipping 4p to close at 240p. Irish Permanent broke the trend, managing to record a 2p gain to close at 400p.

The Independent Newspapers share price held firm at 280p following its share issue.

Elsewhere Waterford Wedgwood, which has been performing very well recently, eased back slightly, to 80p, down 2p on its previous closing price.

A number of companies made corporate announcements yesterday, including Jurys which announced a 58 per cent increase in pre-tax profits. The results were ahead of market expectations and the share price rose 5p yesterday to 285p, an all-time high.

CRH also announced it was acquiring a major US building materials distribution company for $121 million (£75 million). The news was well received by the market and its share price finished up 2p at 617p.

IWP said yesterday that it had bought a 60 per cent shareholding in Polbita, a Polish company engaged in the sale and distribution of household and personal care products in Poland and eastern Europe. However, its share price remained unchanged.

Mackie International, which dealt for the first time since the beginning of May, tumbled 59 1/4p to 278.75p, having gone ex-rights on Monday.

Key US employment data are due out today and will have a crucial effect on what direction interest rates will take. Dealers said the market was marking time ahead of today's figures.