Directors' buying down in holiday shortened week

THE buying fell while the selling among directors rebounded based on filings on the Singapore Exchange during the holiday-shortened week of Dec 22 to 26. A total of 12 companies recorded 14 purchases worth S$3.1 million versus two firms with two disposals worth S$9.4 million. The buy figures were sharply down from the previous week's five-day totals of 25 companies, 49 purchases, and S$6.76 million. There were no sales by directors in the previous week.

Aside from directors, the buyback activity among listed firms plunged with only 12 companies that posted 27 repurchases worth S$10.2 million. The figures were sharply down from the previous week's 16 firms, 64 trades, and S$64.5 million.

Despite the fall in the buying, there were several significant buyback and director purchases last week. The buying has intensified in Keppel Corporation with purchases by Temasek Holdings, two directors and buybacks by the company. There was also heavy activity in Sarine Technologies last week with an insider buy and repurchases by the company.