BT director boosts stake

Jasmine Whitbread, a non-executive at BT, the FTSE 100 telecoms giant, has phoned up for a stack of shares just days after the firm unveiled a surprise 48% leap in third quarter profits, and announced that it would hit its 2013 earnings target a year early.

Whitbread, who has been on the board at BT for just over a year, added 2,300 shares for 2.14878p each, bringing her total number of shares to 2,940.

BT's pre-tax profits (PTP) rose from £441m last year to £652m in the three months to December 31st. Over the first three quarters, PTP totalled £4,455m, up 18% on the previous year.

Try 6 free issues of MoneyWeek today

Get unparalleled financial insight, analysis and expert opinion you can profit from.

Start your trial

Sign up for MoneyWeek’s free twice-daily newsletter.

Join more than 165,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with latest financial news, insights and expert analysis to help you understand what really matters when it comes to your finances.

Join more than 165,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with latest financial news, insights and expert analysis to help you understand what really matters when it comes to your finances.

Sign up

However, revenue totalled £4,774m in the quarter, down 5% from £5,038m the year before and 3% lower on an underlying basis (which excludes transit). Nine-month revenues are 4% last year at £14,432m, down 1.8% on an underlying basis.

Top Director Buys

Low & Bonar (LWB)

Director name: Mr Folkert Blaisse

Amount purchased: 65,000 @ 59.50p

Value: £38,675

Top Director Sells

ARM Holdings (ARM)

Director name: Mr Warren East

Amount sold: 41,782 @ 580.70p

Value: £242,628

ARM Holdings (ARM)

Director name: Mr Tim Score

Amount sold: 33,425 @ 580.70p

Value: £194,099

ARM Holdings (ARM)

Director name: Mr Tudor Brown

Amount sold: 30,752 @ 580.70p

Value: £178,577

ARM Holdings (ARM)

Director name: Mr Mike Muller

Amount sold: 28,078 @ 580.70p

Value: £163,049

ARM Holdings (ARM)

Director name: Mr Mike Inglis

Amount sold: 26,741 @ 580.70p

Value: £155,285

ARM Holdings (ARM)

Director name: Mr Simon Segars

Amount sold: 24,067 @ 580.70p

Value: £139,757