ACTIVITY was flat for directors with 30 transactions worth $9.8 million, based on Singapore Exchange filings last week. The figures were not far off from the previous week's 34 trades worth $6.4 million. Buyers outnumbered sellers with 15 companies that recorded 24 purchases worth $5.4 million, versus five firms with six disposals worth $4.4 million. The number of companies and value on the buying side were up from the previous week's 11 firms and $5.2 million. The number of purchases, however, was down from the previous week's 29 acquisitions. On the negative side, the number of companies and trades were consistent with the previous week's three firms and five disposals. The sell value was sharply up from the previous week's sales worth $1.2 million.

Buyback activity among listed firms rose with seven companies posting 27 repurchases worth $4.7 million. The number of trades and value were up from the previous week's 20 transactions worth $2.8 million, pushing the buyback totals this month to nine companies, 53 trades and $7.7 million. The repurchases so far this month are far below the averages for November of 2007- 2012 of 26 firms, 182 trades and $68 million. If the slow buyback pace continues, the repurchases this month will amount to a paltry 70 transactions worth $10.2 million.

The bulk of the significant insider trades last week were acquisitions, most of which were made following the announcement of earnings results.