DESPITE the weaker opening on Wall Street after trade figures which put a question mark over US economic growth and a weak session in London, selective buying drove the Irish market ahead to anew all time high. Three stocks - Bank of Ireland, Greencore and Irish Permanent - all moved ahead to individual highs, and there was some solid trading in Greencore and Irish Permanent in particular.

Greencore jumped 5p to 335p, with the company expected to be a beneficiary of an expected poor beet harvest in competing European countries. Greencore investors will also be keeping a close eye on the KEPIT takeover bid in Britain - the unit trust, which holds an 8 per cent stake in Greencore.

One of the options being considered by the KEPIT board is a liquidation of its assets a move that could see 8 per cent of Greencore coming onto the market. Dealers in Dublin believe, however, that if the KEPIT stake is sold there will be no shortage of buyers given the current demand for the stock.

Bank of Ireland, which began trading in New York was 2p firmer on 480p but AIB drifted 1p lower to 366p. The main story among the financials, however was Irish Permanent, which powered ahead 9p to a new high of 432p. Irish Life, which reports half year results this morning, was unchanged on 240 of Woodchester added 2p to 194p.

Among the industrial Smurfit was in better demand and closed up 3p on 167p while Independent added another 5p to 315p as the market continued to take a positive view of the Wilson & Horton bid. Waterford Wedgwood - one of the most active shares in the past few days - was down a penny on 80p, while Kerry gained 10p to 610p.

Golden Vale closed 3p higher on 61p as the market digested the dreadful half year results. Dealers see little reason to push the share higher as too many uncertainties over second half 1996 and 1997 trading exist.

In particular, the question of a new chief executive, 1997 milk price, cheese rationalisations and world dairy prices are all uncertainties that make it extraordinarily difficult to make any sort of rational forecast for Golden Vale.