Unlike the main markets in Europe the Irish Stock Exchange ended in positive territory although the overall index stubbornly refused to break through the 3,000 mark and finished the day on 2998.27.
In Frankfurt the DAX index ended at 5,981.2 points, down 0.07 per cent while in Paris the CAC-40 index closed at 3,501.5 points, down 1.58 or 0.05 per cent.
The FTSE 100 also fell, led down by banks, but finished well off session lows on fresh hopes for economic recovery after strong US home sales data. The FTSE 100 closed 11.98 points or 0.23 per cent lower at 5,151.32, having dropped as low as 5,072.53.
After an extremely volatile day in Dublin on Tuesday, Bank of Ireland performed stronger with ordinary shares closing on 75.6 cent a gain of 4.1 cent or 5.73 per cent.
Elsewhere in the financials sector Irish Life & Permanent had a good day with 2.25 million shares traded driving the stock up to ¤1.89, a gain of 2.22 per cent. AIB was the weakest of the financials finishing a lacklustre session on 97.7 cent, down 4.22 per cent.
On a day of light volumes most interest centred around food and consumer-facing stocks.
Although Glanbia finished flat on the day at €3.10 traders noted there was a lot of interest in the stock. Similarly Greencore treaded water at €1.27 but 1.4 million shares changed hands on the day.
Market heavyweight Kerry Group was the best performer in the sector and added 70 cent or 3.18 per cent to close on €22.70.
The food stocks held the market up on the day but there was also strong volumes traded in drinks group C&C. The share price lost momentum towards the close and was up just 2 cent at the bell to close on €3.23.