As ST Index rallied on, director buys to sells at 4:1

THE five trading sessions spanning June 21 to June 27 saw the STI add 1.9 per cent. This brought its dividend-inclusive return for the 2017 year to date to 18.5 per cent, compared to an average 10.4 per cent return for the benchmarks of Japan, Hong Kong and Australia.

Over those five sessions, approximately 50 stocks lodged 130 changes in director and/or substantial shareholders' interests. The ratio of filed director acquisitions to disposals was four to one, while there were a similar number of acquisitions and disposals filed for substantial shareholders.

Six stocks conducted share buybacks over the five sessions with a total consideration of S$7.9 million, almost doubling the buyback consideration of the five preceding sessions. Cordlife Group bought back five million shares, taking its total number of shares buybacks to seven million since the new buyback mandate was approved on July 18.