Director dealings: Confidence in Avingtrans

While admitting he was disappointed with the losses in the first half of the financial year, chairman Roger McDowell last week said he believed they represented "the nadir in our fortunes" and the company's long term strategy was beginning to bear fruit. A number of contract wins in its key markets, including Aerospace, had given confidence for a better performance in the remainder of the year.

McDowell and two fellow directors went into the market following the results to back up their confidence. He bought 60,000 shares to raise his stake to 2.3 million, chief executive Steve McQuillan bought 15,000 and now holds 55,000, and non-executive director Jeremy Hamer bought 10,000 and now holds 114,500 shares. They paid about 35p each for the shares. The company's market value has remained relatively static over the past year.

Robert Noel, who recently joined the board of property group Land Securities, has bought his maiden stake. Noel, MD of the company's London Portfolio arm, bought 32,000 shares at 626.89p each.

Zvi Marom, founder and chief executive of BATM Advanced Technologies, has bought 375,000 shares at 41.5p each after shares in the telecoms group fell following poor 2009 figures. Marom bought 375,000 shares at 41.5p, and now holds more than 22 per cent of the company.

Nigel Snook, chief executive of Education Development International, has topped up his stake in the training company with the purchase of 12,000 shares at 137p each. He now holds 3.12 million shares.

Darren Laguea, the recently appointed chief executive of wastewater treatment company Nature Group, has bought 135,00 shares at 25.9p each. The move takes his stake take to just under 30 per cent.

Malcolm Walker, chief executive of Iceland Foods, has upped his stake in the Individual Restaurant Company where he is a non-executive director. He bought five million shares in the owner of the Restaurant Bar & Grill and Piccolino chains at 13p and now holds more than 19 per cent of the company.

Nicholas Gregory, joint chief executive of real estate investment trust Local Shopping REIT, has bought 25,000 shares at 62p each.

He now owns 600,000 shares.