Buying remains flat, selling slips

THE buying was flat for the third straight week while the selling among directors fell based on filings on the Singapore Exchange from March 28 to April 1. A total of 13 companies recorded 26 purchases worth S$3.25 million versus one firm with two disposals worth S$2.8 million. The buy figures were up from the previous week's four-day totals of 12 firms, 25 purchases and S$1.04 million. On the selling side, the number of companies and trades were sharply down from the previous week's three firms and four disposals. The sell value, however, was sharply up from the previous week's disposals worth S$0.4 million.

Meanwhile, buyback activity plunged for the second straight week with only eight companies that posted 18 repurchases worth S$7.5 million. The figures were down from the previous week's 11 firms, 30 trades and S$11.7 million.

There were several significant corporate shareholder purchases last week with insider buys in ST Engineering, Kim Heng Offshore & Marine, ASL Marine Holdings and GL Limited and substantial shareholder acquisitions in Mapletree Greater China Commercial Trust, The Hour Glass Limited, mm2 Asia Ltd and Saizen Reit.