Cookson chairman buys after rally

published 28 June 2011

The chairman of ceramics, electronics and precious metals supplier Cookson Jeffrey Harris has increased his holding in the company by 50%, spending more than £60,000 on shares.He took 10,000 shares at 616.2p a go and now has 30,000. Shares in the company have rallied sharply since his last purchase in September, when he took 10,000 shares at 424p a time.In an update last month, Harris said Cookson's surging profits in 2010 demonstrate how well it has recovered from the 2008/09 global economic crisis. He said trading over the first four months of 2011 has been "very encouraging."Harris is also chairman of the distribution and outsourcing firm Bunzl and a non-executive director at the newsagent chain WH Smith.The ceramics business, which trades under the brand names Vesuvius and Foseco, is Cookson's largest division, accounting for more than 60% of profits and revenues in 2010.Top Director BuysCookson Group (CKSN) Director name: Mr Jeffrey Francis HarrisAmount purchased: 10,000 @ 616.24p Value: £61,624F&C Asset Management (FCAM) Director name: Mr Edward BramsonAmount purchased: 35,367 @ 74.22p Value: £26,249F&C Asset Management (FCAM) Director name: Mr Edward BramsonAmount purchased: 35,367 @ 74.22p Value: £26,249Green Dragon Gas Ltd. (DI) (GDG) Director name: Mr David TurnbullAmount purchased: 2,000 @ $9.50 Value: $19,000Top Director SellsInvestec (INVP) Director name: Mr Hendrik du ToitAmount sold: 281,250 @ 475.00p Value: £1,335,938Halma (HLMA) Director name: Mr Neil QuinnAmount sold: 21,000 @ 399.02p Value: £83,794