Shares on the Dublin market turned markedly weaker with few buyers around to provide any support. Bank holidays in the UK and US this weekend were being blamed for the absence of international buyers from the market and trading volumes were very thin throughout the session.

All sectors were hit by the weaker tone. The leading industrial stocks struggled throughout the day, with CRH closing down 77 cents at €18.8, having dipped as low as €18.67 in the afternoon. Smurfit also ended the day down, slipping back five cents to €2.17.

The banks were weaker, with AIB drifting back to €9.945, down from €10.25. Bank of Ireland was off 17 cents at €6.75, having recovered from a low of €6.70. Anglo Irish Bank was marginally weaker at €2.38, down from €2.43, First Active was unchanged at €2, and Irish Life & Permanent lost €13 cents to end the day at €8.77.

Eircom had another bad day. The shares hit a low of €2.97 during trading as the stock continues to attract negative sentiment. It managed to regain some ground, with dealers saying some buyers were coming in to buy the stock at around €3. It closed at €3.055, down just over 15 cents.

Other stocks affected on the day included: Fyffes, which fell 20 cents to €1.50; Independent News & Media was off 10 cents, closing at €8.45, down 10 cents; Kerry was down 20 cents, closing at €13. 80; Riverdeep dropped 60 cents to €3.40. Waterford Wedgwood managed to buck the trend, however, closing at €1.07, up one cent.