The ISEQ index of Irish shares rose 45.02 points to 6,052.37 in morning trade today.
Most-traded stocks were Bank of Ireland (€11.55), Anglo Irish Bank (€17.05), AIB (€14.40), Kerry Group (€17.75) and CRH (19.23).
Shares in Tullow Oil remained flat at €2.06, after the company announced the discovery of a number of gas-bearing reservoirs at Bangora, Bangladesh.