Directors' trading activity up; buybacks decline

TRADINGS by company directors rose with 20 companies recording 52 transactions worth S$18.3 million in the Jan 19-23 week, according to filings on Singapore Exchange. The figures were up from the previous week's 18 firms, 44 trades and S$14.4 million. Buyers outweighed sellers with 16 companies that recorded 45 purchases worth S$12.5 million versus five firms with seven disposals worth S$5.8 million. The buy figures were up from the previous week's 17 companies, 39 purchases and S$9.3 million. The sales, on the other hand, were up from the previous week's two firms, five disposals and S$5.1 million.

While the buying by directors rose last week, the buybacks fell with 16 companies that posted 58 repurchases worth S$24.4 million. The number of firms was unchanged but the number of trades and value were sharply down from the previous week's 73 transactions worth S$33.7 million. The bulk of the significant trades last week were purchases with buybacks in Ho Bee Land and Global Palm Resources and insider…