Director Dealings: Styles & Wood turns corner

PROPERTY services group Styles & Wood recently managed to return to the black despite a fall in turnover caused by tough times on the high street. Underlying profits for 2010 came in at £200,000 compared to a loss of £1.4 million for 2009.

Although turnover fell by 29 per cent, the firm said second-half performance was substantially up on the first half of the year and that a drive to increase its share of the commercial and banking markets in light of difficulties in the retail sector was paying dividends.

Last week chairman Jim Martin signalled his faith in the company's future prospects by buying 250,000 shares at 12.25p each to take his holding up to 283,509.

Christopher Greig, a non-executive director of Glasgow intellectual property group Murgitroyd, has bought 10,000 shares at 320p each. It represents his first holding in the group.

Sean Watson, chairman of TT Electronics, has upped his holding in the technology firm with the purchase of 12,550 shares at 166.5p each. He now has 158,000 shares.

Robert Cross, chairman of oil and gas group Bankers Petroleum, has sold 500,000 shares - around half his stake - for 549.69p each.

Edwin Snape, vice-chairman of medical technology group Deltex Medical, has sold 3.4 million shares at 28.5p each, although retains a stake of more than 1 million shares.

Stephen Ackerman, a non-executive director at investment trust Gresham House, bought 5,000 shares at 329p each.

Colin Bird, chairman of metals group Jubilee Platinum, has bought 180,000 shares at 27.6p each. He now holds more than 4.1 million shares.

Christian Ellegaard, managing director of the Nordic region for textile rental business Berendsen, has bought 12,000 shares at 487p and now holds 103,607.

Debbie Hewitt, chairman of men's clothing group Moss Bros, bought 92,767 shares at 26p each. She now holds 388,032 shares.

Henry Nilert, chief financial officer of MCB Finance, has bought 100,000 shares at 33.8p to take his holding up to more than 1.3 million shares.