Iseq sees quiet day of trading

It was another quiet day in Dublin with light volumes across all stocks a continuing theme.

Meanwhile, figures from the Central Statistics Office showed exports declined to €7.5 billion, a 9 per cent fall compared with November.

Dragon Oil registered a 0.17 cent or 2.6 per cent gain yesterday to close up at €6.60. The jump came as Brent oil climbed to a six-month high on fears of supply disruptions from Iran.

Kerry Group also performed well. After hitting a high of 6 per cent earlier in the day, shares closed at €30.6, up €1.24 and 4.2 per cent. Interest was no doubt stimulated by forthcoming results and the consolidation of two of its customers - Kellogg’s and Pringles.

Bank of Ireland was sluggish, down 2.3 per cent in a market that was up to close at .12 cent. With a good run on its shares of late, analysts attributed the drop to a possible natural ebb.

Elsewhere, the airlines performed reasonably well, despite fears about increasing oil prices.

Ryanair rose by 2.1 per cent or .09 cent to close at €4.29. Coming into results next week, Aer Lingus finished at 0.92 cent, a drop of .4 per cent.