Director purchases to sales at 2:1; 3 healthcare stocks report buying

THE four trading sessions spanning Aug 4 to Aug 10 saw the Straits Times Index (STI) decline by 0.6 per cent, bringing its dividend-inclusive return for the 2017 year through to Aug 10 to 18.1 per cent, compared to an average 10.8 per cent return for the benchmarks of Japan, Hong Kong and Australia.

Over those four sessions, 41 stocks lodged 73 changes in director interests and/or substantial shareholders. The ratio of filed director acquisitions to disposals was two to one, while there was a similar number of acquisitions and disposals filed for substantial shareholders.

Ten stocks conducted share buybacks over the four sessions with a total consideration of S$10.1 million, more than double the buyback consideration of S$4.3 million during the five preceding sessions.