Director buys to sells at 6:1, ADM increases Wilmar stake

THE five trading sessions spanning Aug 18 to Aug 24 saw the Straits Times Index (STI) add a marginal 0.1 per cent, bringing its dividend-inclusive return for the 2017 year through to Aug 24 to 16.9 per cent, compared to an average 10.4 per cent return for the benchmarks of Japan, Hong Kong and Australia.

Over those five sessions, 57 SGX-listed stocks lodged 130 changes in director interests and/or substantial shareholders. The ratio of filed director acquisitions to disposals was six to one, while the acquisitions to disposals filed for substantial shareholders rose to five to one. There were 16 stocks that conducted share buybacks over the five sessions with a total consideration of S$15.3 million, down 37 per cent for the five preceding sessions.

During these five sessions, the MSCI Emerging Markets Asia Total Return Index gained 1.2 per cent, which coincided with a number of SGX-listed companies with businesses in China, Myanmar and Indonesia filing director and substantial shareholder transactions.