Low trading but buyback activity up sharply

INSIDER trading activity was low for the third straight week with no sales by directors and only three companies that recorded four purchases worth S$3 million based on filings on Singapore Exchange in the second week of February. The number of firms and trades were consistent with the previous week's three companies and five acquisitions. The buy value, on the other hand, was sharply up from the previous week's purchases worth S$310,000.

While the buying by directors was low last week, the buyback activity rebounded sharply with seven companies that posted 10 repurchases worth S$7.6 million. The figures were sharply up from the previous week's two firms, four trades and S$3.4 million.

There were several significant corporate shareholder trades last week with buybacks in DBS Group, Singapore Press Holdings and Technics Oil & Gas. On the directors' side, there were rare buys in Falcon Energy Group, Ezra Holdings and IPS Securex Holdings. On the substantial shareholders' front, there were trades in healthcare plays Health Management International and Religare Health Trust las…