THE buying was high for the second straight week while the selling among directors plunged, according to Oct 21-25 filings on Singapore Exchange. A total of 17 companies recorded 35 purchases worth $4.25 million versus a paltry two firms with 15 disposals worth $5.24 million. The number of companies and trades on the buying side were up from the previous week's four-day totals of 11 firms and 27 acquisitions. The buy value, however, was sharply down from the previous week's purchases worth $6.8 million. On the selling side, the sales figures were down from the previous week's five companies, 17 disposals and $12.7 million.

While the buying by directors was high last week, the buyback activity among listed firms fell with only five firms posting 17 repurchases worth $1.57 million. The figures were near the previous week's four-day totals of seven companies, 16 trades and $1.5 million.

There were several significant corporate shareholder trades last week. Courts Asia Ltd bought back for the first time after the stock fell by 30 per cent. On the directors' front, there were key insider buys in Asiaphos Ltd, Megachem Ltd, Innovalues Ltd and Religare Health Trust.