The ISEQ index of Irish shares was valued at 2,884.71 points at 11.45am, a drop of 5.40.
Among notable fallers were FBD, down 24c to €5.75; Smurfit Kappa, falling 15c to €6.30; Elan Corp, slipping 7c to €5.15; Kingspan, down 6c to €5.79; DCC, shedding 5c to €19.60, and Glanbia, down 4c to €2.52.
On the risers' board, Paddy Power lifted 27c to €23.88; Aryzta added 15c to €27.95; CRH was up 11c to €16.93; Grafton Group added 5c to €2.65 and Aer Lingus lifted 2c to €0.67.
Financial stocks were in the red, with AIB down 2c to €1.07, Bank of Ireland slipping 5c to €1.14 and Irish Life & Permanent shedding 16c to €2.94.