Dialight shines as demand gathers momentum

DIALIGHT, which specialises in developing LED lighting systems used in applications ranging from traffic lights to railway signalling, has reported a strong start to its current financial year.

A trading update earlier this month confirmed high levels of demand for its products and the board said it was confident of meeting expectations for the year.

Following the announcement, three directors went into the market to invest in shares.

Non-executive director Bill Ronald bought his first stake with the purchase of 10,000 shares. Chief executive Roy Burton also bought 10,000 shares to increase his holding to 63,982 and interim finance director George Ralph bought his maiden stake of 5,000 shares. They each paid around 264p for the shares which have already more than doubled over the past year.

• Four directors of Dundee-based diagnostics group Axis-Shield have increased their holdings.

Chairman John Brown, chief executive Ian Gilham, finance director Ronny Hermansen and non executive director Professor Wenche Rolfsen, together purchased 21,500 shares at around 295p each. Shares in the company fell sharply earlier this month after it warned recent sales have been below forecast.

• Caroline Nish, the wife of Standard Life chief executive David Nish, has bought 50,000 shares at 188p each to take the couple's stake to 387,045 shares.

• Ross Graham, a non-executive director at Edinburgh technology group Wolfson Microelectronics, has bought 21,984 shares at 175p each to increase his holding to 149,329 shares.

• Ivan Dunleavy, chief executive of film studios Pinewood Shepperton, has bought 10,000 shares at 139.25p each.

• Norman Murray, a non-executive director at Robert Wiseman Dairies, has bought 2,100 shares at 483p each. He now holds 12,100 shares.

• Dr Alan Hearne, chief executive of environmental consultancy RPS, has sold the bulk of his holding.

He disposed of 470,000 shares at 209.5p each to leave him with 15,130 shares.

• Per Utnegaard, a non-executive director at the laundry and workwear group Davis Service, has spent heavily to increase his stake.

He bought 50,000 shares at 399p each and now holds 150,000 shares.

• Simon Wolfson, chief executive of fashion chain Next, has bought 19,231 shares at 2,080p each to take his stake to more than 1.62 million shares.