Buybacks rise, Oei Hong Leong increases Raffles Education stake

THE four trading sessions spanning Sept 4-7 saw the Straits Times Index (STI) decline 1.5 per cent. This brought its dividend-inclusive return for 2017 (through to Sept 7) to 15.3 per cent, compared to an average 9.9 per cent return for the benchmarks of Japan, Hong Kong and Australia.

Over those four sessions, 46 SGX-listed stocks lodged approximately 90 changes in director interests and/or substantial shareholders. The ratio of filed company director acquisitions to disposals was 14 to one, which was the same ratio for acquisitions to disposals filed for substantial shareholders of companies.

There were 13 stocks that conducted share buybacks over the four sessions …