WH Smith director goes to the till

Jeff Harris, a Non-Executive Director at WH Smith, purchased 10,000 shares in the stationery and book retailer on Friday, one day after the firm's interim results.

Harris, currently the Chairman of FTSE 250 speciality plastic and fibre products supplier Filtrona who joined WH Smith's board in June of last year, paid 533p per share bringing the total transaction value to £53,300. Following the purchase, he holds a 0.008% stake in WH Smith.

On Thursday, the group reported that like-for-like (LFL) and total sales fell in both its main divisions in the six months to the end of February but profits were up. Total sales were £665m (2011: £686m) with LFL sales down 5%.

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According to an Investec research note today: "A solid set of interim results was in line with our and consensus forecasts, underlining once again the strength of the group's cash generation, which supported a 15% increase in the interim dividend."

Top Director Buys

WH Smith (SMWH)

Director name: Mr Jeffrey Francis Harris

Amount purchased: 10,000 @ 533.00p

Value: £53,300

Fairpoint Group (FRP)

Director name: Mr John Allkins

Amount purchased: 50,000 @ 65.00p

Value: £32,500

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Xaar (XAR)

Director name: Mr Ian Dinwoodie

Amount sold: 330,357 @ 225.00p

Value: £743,303

BrainJuicer Group (BJU)

Director name: Mr Simon Godfrey

Amount sold: 20,000 @ 302.75p

Value: £60,550

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