Quartet going for gold

Published on Saturday 27 February 2010 14:39

SHARES in Central China Goldfields rose strongly last week after four directors upped their stake in the Aim-listed minnow.

The company, which has several joint ventures with Chinese partners in gold and other mineral projects, has also recently announced reaching heads of agreement over a gold prospect in Western Australia.

Board members Peter Ruxton, Jeffrey Malaihollo, Nigel Clark and Paul McGroary together bought 880,000 shares at around 3p each. Earlier this month they also bought 1.2 million shares at 2.7p each.

&#149 Chris Batterham, a non-executive of Glasgow-based hosting company Iomart, has bought 25,000 shares for his pension fund. He paid 45p each and now holds 90,621 shares.

&#149 David Shearer, a non-executive director at broadcaster STV, has bought 27,500 shares at 51p and now holds 40,000 shares.

&#149 David Cairns, production director at Stirling-based Superglass Holdings, has sold 38,650 shares at 26p per share.

&#149 Paul Neep, a non-executive director at Scottish sausage skin producer Devro, has topped up his stake with the purchase of 2,885 shares at 168p each. He now holds 170,119 shares.

&#149 Dennis Millard, chairman of car accessory retailer Halfords, has upped his stake following the company's acquisition of Nationwide Autocentres.

He bought 15,000 shares at 431p a time and now holds 25,000.

&#149 Sir Derek Wanless, chairman of Northumbrian Water, has significantly increased his holding in the utility group.

He bought 35,000 shares at 274p and now holds 65,000 shares.

&#149 Miles Roberts, chief executive of own-label household goods manufacturer McBride, has reduced his stake in the company.

He sold 195,000 shares at 230p a time and now holds 10,473 along with significant interests in shares under incentive schemes.

&#149 Malcolm Argent, a non-executive director at electronics designer and manufacturer Elektron, has bought his first stake in the company with the purchase of 40,000 shares at 12.88p each.

&#149 Two directors at financial software group Fidessa have sold shares.

Chief executive Chris Aspinwall sold 250,000 shares and chairman John Hamer sold 100,000, all at 1,385p each.