The Iseq index gained 0.9 per cent in the session, pulled on by CRH and Irish Continental Group. Photograph by Angela Weiss/AFPInvestors maintained a holding pattern on Thursday in advance of US Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell’s highly anticipated speech at Jackson Hole on Friday.
Building materials giant CRH was up nearly 3.9 per cent to €38.36 per share after raising its guidance for the rest of the year. Traders in Dublin said the Albert Manifold-headed group’s performance coupled with its confident outlook in the US and Europe has lifted it above competitors in both markets.
The FTSE 100 index gained a modest 0.6 per cent after three consecutive sessions of losses with Chilean-owned miner Antofagasta up 2.6 per cent, Glencore up 1.7 per cent and Anglo American gaining 1.4 on the day. The pan-European Stoxx 600 was up 0.3 per cent. The German Dax, also up 0.3 per cent, and the French Cac, up 0.1 per cent in the session, also received a lift from energy stocks and positive economic data.