Publishing Technology story takes positive twist

PUBLISHING Technology, which provides software and consultancy services for the production of books and academic journals, recently reported interim results slightly ahead of management expectations.

The Aim-listed company also said it expected to benefit from a number of new products and was seeing strong growth in overseas markets, particularly in Brazil and Latin America. A launch into the Japanese market is planned this month.

Shares in the company are well down on the 90p-plus levels seen in January and chief financial officer Alan Moug clearly believes they offer value at the current price. Last week he twice went into the market to increase his stake with the purchase of a total of 12,500 shares at 74p each. In August he bought 6,030 shares at 73p each. He now owns a total of 414,637 shares.

• Allan Watson, chief financial officer of Galashiels-based pharmaceuticals group ProStrakan, has increased his holding following the sharp fall in the company's share price last week.

Watson bought 30,000 shares at 53.73p each and now holds 47,426 shares in the company.

• Two directors at Livingston-based medical software group Craneware have increased their holdings following final results last week. Chief executive Keith Neilson purchased a total of 18,780 shares at prices ranging from 400p to 450p and now holds 3.42 million shares. Non-executive director Neil Heywood bought 2,430 shares at 411.5p and now holds 130,356.

• Paul Neep, a non-executive director at Scottish sausage skin manufacturer Devro, has bought 3,700 shares at 236p each. He now holds 183,449 shares.

• Graham Wilson, chairman of East Kilbride-based Goals Soccer Centres, has increased his stake following results last week. He bought 10,000 shares at 123.5p each and now holds 350,000.

• Neil Herbert, a non-executive director at European Nickel, has bought his first stake with the purchase of 900,000 shares at 24p a share in the mining group.

• Terry Bate, non-executive chairman of media production company Talent Group, has bought 70,000 shares at 2p per share and now holds a total of 4.2 million.

• Two directors at compliance software company Lombard Risk Management have bought shares. Deputy chairman Ian Peacock and non-executive Mike Shinya each bought 250,000 shares at 4.375p,