Iseq slips in afternoon trade

The Iseq fell in afternoon trade, losing early gains from the morning's session.

The Iseq fell in afternoon trade, losing early gains from the morning's session.

At 3.25pm, the Irish index of shares was down 7.75 points to 3,306.82.

The news that AIB has issued a €1 billion three-year senior unsecured unguaranteed bond was well received, with stock holding its gains into the afternoon. This was the first such issue by an Irish bank since the government guarantee was put in place last year. The bank said the the issue was oversubscribed, and more than 230 investors participated.

By 3.25pm, AIB was trading at €3.25, more than 1.8 per cent up. Bank of Ireland was up 0.5 per cent at €2.96.

Irish Life & Permanent shed 0.7 per cent this afternoon, despite earlier gains, to trade at €5.50.

After a reasonable performance this morning, building stock suffered later in the day, with CRH trading at €19.00, a fall of 0.7 per cent.

Grafton was flat at €3.60, while Kingspan gaine 1.6 per cent to €6.35.

Independent News & Media initially saw its share price slip 3.5 per cent today to 27 cents, but was flat this afternoon at 28 cent. The company was expecting a debt moratorium to be extended today, and is continuing to fight back against rebel investor Denis O'Brien's attempts to depose its chairman and senior independent director.