Sector movers: Banks rise on Ireland hopes

Financial stocks are in demand today, with banks performing strongly following the Irish banking stress tests yesterday.Irish banks are unsurprisingly leading the way amid hopes the government's plans will keep the sector out of harm's way. Bank of Ireland is sharply higher. British banks such as Barclays and RBS are also going well.Insurers are another sector in demand, with Old Mutual one of the FTSE 100's best performers.Just one sector, construction and materials, is in negative territory.Top performing sectors so far todayBanks 4,754.60 +2.74%Life Insurance 4,502.06 +2.28%Automobiles & Parts 4,795.37 +2.09%Insurance (non-life) 1,579.13 +2.04%Household Goods & Home Construction 6,380.32 +1.99%Bottom performing sectors so far todayConstruction & Materials 4,197.10 -0.88%Alternative Energy 3,328.77 0.00%Leisure Goods null 0.00%Food Producers & Processors 5,063.26 +0.02%Real Estate Investment & Services 1,611.31 +0.04%