Barratt Developments chairman Bob Lawson has begun building a stake in the housebuilder with the purchase of nearly £100,000 worth of shares.
He took 151,841 shares at 65.3p a time on the same day Barratt shares advanced as high as 75p in spite of a gloomy trading update in which it warned that more write downs are likely as house prices keep falling.
"Conditions in the housing market have remained extremely challenging with poor consumer confidence, continuing restrictions on the availability of mortgage finance, and further pressure on pricing," the firm said.
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.
"Against this backdrop, Barratt continues to focus on maximising sales revenues, reducing costs and generating cash to reduce debt levels."
Latest Videos FromMoneyWeek
Average selling prices on a like-for-like basis are expected to have fallen by between 15% and 20% at the end of December 2008 from their peak in July 2007, Barratt said, adding that increased discounts are exerting continued downward pressure on margins.
Lawson, 63, became chairman of Barratt on July 1. He is also chairman of the recruitment group Hays. He was educated at Cambridge University and is a qualified engineer with an MBA.
Shares in Barratt have fallen by nearly 90% over the past year amid turmoil in the UK housing market and in line with losses across the housebuilding sector.
Top Director Buys
Symphony International Holdings (SIHL)
Director name: Mr Anil Thadani
Amount purchased: 250,000 @ $0.40
Value: $100,000
Barratt Developments (BDEV)
Director name: Mr Bob Lawson
Amount purchased: 151,841 @ 65.30p
Value: £99,152
BG Group (BG.)
Director name: Sir Sir Robert Wilson
Amount purchased: 8,000 @ 830.50p
Value: £66,440
Lighthouse Group (LGT)
Director name: Mr Malcolm Streatfield
Amount purchased: 150,000 @ 10.30p
Value: £15,450
Lighthouse Group (LGT)
Director name: Mr Peter Smith
Amount purchased: 100,000 @ 10.30p
Value: £10,300
Natasa Mining Ltd (NSN)
Director name: Mr Chrisilios Kyriakou
Amount purchased: 10,000 @ 45.34p
Value: £4,534
Top Director Sells
Kingspan Group (KGP)
Director name: Mr Dermot Mulvihill
Amount sold: 200,000 @ € 3.25
Value: € 650,000
