Big hopes for Strontium

Despite its share price falling by half from its year high, the professional services group which helps develop high-potential SMEs said it was "cautiously optimistic" about growth in 2010.

In the six months to the end of December, Strontium saw profits on continuing activities almost double to 145,270.

Following the results, two directors went into the market to increase their holdings. Chairman Michael Metcalfe bought 127,250 shares at 11.5p to raise his stake to 3.89 million shares, and managing director David Barker bought 20,000 shares at 11p and now holds 2.45 million.

Cameron McLatchie, chairman of Greenock-based packaging group BPI, has increased his stake in the wake of results last week. He bought 50,000 shares at 288p and now owns 727,289 shares.

Heather D'Silva, wife of Surface Transforms chairman Kevin D'Silva, has bought 30,000 shares in the ceramic materials company at 13p each. The couple now own more than 300,000 shares.

Brian McArthur-Muscroft, group finance director of data centres group TeleCity, has sold 349,995 shares at 405p. He now holds 153,639 shares.

Jonathan Pochin, a director of a subsidiary of construction and development group Pochin's, has sold 10,000 shares at 80p each to the group's chief executive John Moss. Pochin now holds 411,009 shares.

Stephen Wildridge, managing director of pharmaceuticals supplier Animalcare, has sold shares. He disposed of 155,000 shares at 117.5p and now holds 315,068 shares.

Jonathan Davie, a new non-executive director at housebuilder Persimmon, has made his first purchase of shares. Davie bought 10,000 shares at 419.9p each.

Guy Eastaugh, finance director at Invista Real Estate Investment Management, has sold 150,000 shares at 49p and retains a stake of 307,257.