ST Index maintains 3,300 level; director buys vs sells at 5:1

THE five trading sessions spanning July 28 to Aug 3 saw the STI maintain its dividend-inclusive return for the 2017 year to date at 18.7 per cent, compared to an average 10.9 per cent return for the benchmarks of Japan, Hong Kong and Australia.

Over those five sessions, almost 50 stocks lodged 100 changes in director interests and/or substantial shareholders. The ratio of filed director acquisitions to disposals was five to one, while there was a similar number of acquisitions and disposals filed for substantial shareholders.

Six stocks conducted share buybacks over the five sessions with a total consideration of S$4.3 million, just over half of the buyback consideration of S$7.9 million during the five preceding sessions. OCBC bought back 160,000 shares on Aug 3 at S$11.27 per share, taking its number of shares bought back since the April 28 mandate to 8.36 million.