BHP director buys after results

Alan Boeckmann, a director at the mining giant BHP Billiton, has taken a chunk of shares in the firm following its interim results.

He bought 590 American depositary shares at $58.41 a time on the New York stock exchange, equivalent to 1,180 BHP Billiton Plc shares at 1,872p a time.

The purchase was made on the same day BHP delivered its six-monthly results.

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Lower commodity prices and a weak US dollar had underlying earnings at BHP Billiton down 28.5% in the last six months of 2009, although the miner called it a 'sound' financial performance.

Underlying earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) fell to $8.50bn from $11.90bn in 2008 on revenue down 17.5% to $24.58bn. Underlying EBITDA was off 22.2% at $10.84bn and attributable profit excluding exceptional items slipped 7% to $5.70bn.

Boeckmann joined BHP Biliton in 2008. He is the chairman and chief executive of engineering and construction services firm Fluor.

Top Director Buys

Thomas Cook Group (TCG) Director name: Mr Paul HollingworthAmount purchased: 63,553 @ 234.00p Value: £148,714

Thomas Cook Group (TCG) Director name: Mr Manny Fontela-NovoaAmount purchased: 63,553 @ 234.00p Value: £148,714

Thomas Cook Group (TCG) Director name: Mr Sam WeihagenAmount purchased: 58,616 @ 234.00p Value: £137,161

BHP Billiton (BLT) Director name: Mr Alan BoeckmannAmount purchased: 1,180 @ 1,872.62p Value: £22,097

Berkeley Group Holdings (BKG) Director name: Mr Karl WhitemanAmount purchased: 2,603 @ 768.30p Value: £19,999

Redhall Group (RHL) Director name: Mr John O'KaneAmount purchased: 10,000 @ 163.80p Value: £16,380

Arden Partners (ARDN) Director name: Mr Jonathan B KeelingAmount purchased: 15,391 @ 103.50p Value: £15,930

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Provexis (PXS) Director name: Mr Stephen MoonAmount sold: 6,000,000 @ 7.20p Value: £432,000

Mattioli Woods (MTW) Director name: Mr Murray Beveridge SmithAmount sold: 50,000 @ 230.00p Value: £115,000

Provexis (PXS) Director name: Dr Neville C BainAmount sold: 330,300 @ 7.08p Value: £23,385