SHARE prices bounced back in good-sized trading on the Dublin market, with the financial shares in particular benefiting from a recovery in bond prices. Smurfit was also better in late trading after it emerged that Tiger Management has shelved its plans to unload shares - at least for the moment.

AIB dealt up 9 1/2p to 340p after its heavy fall on Wednesday with heavy trading in London where 1.7 million shares dealt. Almost a million Bank of Ireland shares also traded in London, driving the shares up 12 1/2p to 442p. Overall, financial shares were 2 per cent higher, with Irish Permanent and Woodchester both better bid on 398p and 181p respectively.

Smurfit closed up 2p on 145p but the overhanging 40 million shares held by Tiger are likely to retard any significant progress for the shares. Eventually these shares will be sold, but it is a poor indication when two separate broking were unable to find sufficient buyers to pay 140p a share for Smurfit.

Elsewhere, there was strong demand for CRH and the shares dealt up 2p to 510p and closed well-bid. Strong bid interest pushed Greencore up to a new all-time high of 575p, a rise of 8p on the day. Good results from Grafton and Ardagh pushed their shares ahead. Grafton closed up 5p on 470p while Ardagh was 4p firmer on 126p. Waterford Wedgwood was also well-bid and closed up 1 1/2p on 60p.

There was decent turnover on the gilt market but it lacked any real impetus. The yield differential against British gilts widened farther from 16 basis points to 22 basis points in the 10-year area. The 2006 gilt closed on a yield of 7.65 per cent, while five-year gilts closed on a yield of 6.91 per cent.