The ISEQ added 29 points by close of business today to 5,634.21 as market heavyweight Elan posted strong gains.
Elan closed on euro 52.25 a gain of 175 cents on the day. Among the financials, AIB was off six cents on euro 13.00, Bank of Ireland firmed four cents to euro 9.86 while Irish Life and Permanent reversed early losses to close up five cents on euro 12.05.
Construction stocks were mixed with CRH down 24 cents to euro 18.79 while Green Property added 25 cents to euro 7.45.
Eircom closed down one cent on euro 2.52 while Independent shares closed unchanged on euro 3.08.
Tech stocks saw Iona down 186 cents on euro 65.14, Riverdeep shares gained 20 cents to euro 3.50 while Horizon closed up eight cents on euro 7.28.
London shares ended almost flat today, just fractionally weaker after falling back in the afternoon following a firm morning session, pressurised by a cautious performance from Wall Street, with the DJIA depressed by a profit warning from Home Depot, and the Nasdaq index seeing its early gains eroded, dealers said.
By the close, the FTSE 100 index was 0.6 points easier at 6,209.3, well above an afternoon low of 6,186.4, but below a morning peak of 6,276.4.