Director buying falls, selling stays low

THE buying fell for the fourth straight week and the selling among directors weakened further based on filings on the Singapore Exchange in the last week of July. A total of six companies recorded 13 purchases worth S$0.77 million versus one firm with one disposal worth S$0.19 million. The number of companies and trades on the buying side were down from the previous week's nine firms and 15 purchases. The buy value, however, was slightly up from the previous week's purchases worth S$0.75 million. The sales figures, on the other hand, were down from the previous week's already low two companies, five disposals and S$0.96 million.

Aside from directors, the buyback activity fell for the fourth straight week with 10 companies that posted 29 repurchases worth S$10.3 million. The figures were down from the previous week's 14 firms, 51 trades and S$13.7 million.

Despite the fall in the director and buyback activity, there were several significant filings last week. There were notable buybacks in SIA Engineering, iFAST Corporation and Olam International, and insider buys in Tung Lok Restaurants, SHS Holdings and GL Limited. On the negative side, there was a rare insider sale in Viva Industrial Trust following the sharp rebound in the unit price.