Directors' share buys up in 2015

IT was a very active year for directors who bought shares last year, with 338 directors of 229 companies recording 2,042 purchases worth S$343 million. Based on filings on the Singapore Exchange in 2015, the figures were up from the previous year's 286 directors, 214 firms, 1,433 purchases and S$292 million. The number of purchases last year was higher than the yearly average of 1,841 acquisitions from 2007 to 2014, and significantly up from the yearly average 1,687 purchases from 2001 to 2014. However, the three other trade totals in 2015 were down from the yearly averages of 389 directors, 247 companies and S$464 million from 2001 to 2014.

In terms of performance, buyers had a very rough year with a whopping 206 directors or 61 per cent of the total number of buyers that saw their share prices end lower from their average purchase prices at the end of 2015. These directors recorded an average drop of 23 per cent from their average purchase prices. On the positive side, a total of 120 directors or 36 per cent of the total number of buyers saw their share prices end higher from their average purchase prices with an average gain of 27 per cent.

Selling was sharply down last year with only 75 directors of 60 firms that recorded 188 disposals worth S$73 million. These figures represent the lowest yearly totals since 2001, and are down from the previous year's 87 directors, 72 companies, 322 disposals and S$122 million. The yearly averages are 223 directors, 127 firms, 616 disposals and S$350 million from 2001 to 2014.