DUBLIN REPORT: Iseq:2,780.87 (+24.75) Settlement date: August 26th

IT WAS Kingspan’s day on the Irish Stock Exchange yesterday, as the stock rallied strongly following its better than expected first half results.

Although Kingspan closed off its highs of the day, which at one point saw it surpassing €5.50, it nonetheless finished up by 29 cent, or 5.7 per cent, at €5.37.

With results season under way, ahead of the declaration by CRH of its performance over the first half of the year, there was a bit of apprehension in the stock. It finished up 14 cent, or 1 per cent, at €14.03.

Business support services group DCC’s announcement yesterday that it is to acquire French consumer electronics firm Comtrade in a €20 million deal had little impact on the company’s stock price. DCC finished down by 4 cent, or 0.2 per cent, at €19.18.

Irish financials advanced marginally, with Irish Life Permanent best on the day. It gained 5 cent, or 3.2 per cent to climb to €1.51, while Bank of Ireland added 2 cent, or 2.1 per cent, to finish up at €0.78. AIB was also positive, finishing the day up by 1 cent, or 1.7 per cent, at €0.83.

Ahead of the results from Aer Lingus today, the stock was unchanged, closing at €0.93, while Ryanair traded in a very narrow range during the day, between €3.80-€3.83, before also finishing the day flat at €3.80.

Independent News Media secured a slight bounce ahead of its results later this week, and it advanced by 2 cent, or 2.5 per cent, to finish the day up at €0.66.

The Grafton Group gained 4 cent, or 1.4 per cent, to advance to €2.63, while Glanbia added 6 cent, or 1.8 per cent, to finish up at €3.38.

Greencore was also up on the day, and it gained 2 cent, or 1.5 per cent, to close at €1.23.

Smurfit Kappa was one of the few weak stocks, it fell 23 cent, or 3.3 per cent, to finish at €6.96.