Thorntons ShareCast News (THT)

Thorntons chairman John von Spreckelsen has tucked into another helping of shares in the chocolate retailer, spending £55,000.

He paid 110p a time for 50,000 shares, taking his holding to 1.05m, which is 1.54% of the firm.

The shares have surged since von Spreckelsen last went on a spending spree in February, when markets were in turmoil.

He bought nearly 250,000 shares during the month at between 47p and 57p.

Earlier this week Thorntons served up a 4.5% decline in annual pre-tax profit but held its final dividend, underlining its confidence in future trading.

Top Director Buys

Numis Corporation (NUM)

Director name: Mr T David G Arculus

Amount purchased: 65,000 @ 165.00p

Value: £107,250

Kofax (KFX)

Director name: Mr Greg Lock

Amount purchased: 55,714 @ 147.00p

Value: £81,900

Thorntons (THT)

Director name: Mr John Von Spreckelsen

Amount purchased: 50,000 @ 110.00p

Value: £55,000

Atkins (WS) (ATK)

Director name: Mr Allan E Cook

Amount purchased: 4,594 @ 653.00p

Value: £29,999

Domino Printing (DNO)

Director name: Mr Chris Brinsmead

Amount purchased: 10,000 @ 284.80p

Value: £28,480

Chloride Group (CHLD)

Director name: Mr Gary Bullard

Amount purchased: 10,000 @ 154.00p

Value: £15,400

Chrysalis VCT (CYS)

Director name: Dr Martin Knight

Amount purchased: 17,652 @ 61.00p

Value: £10,768



Top Director Sells

Berkeley Group Holdings Units (BKG)

Director name: Mr Anthony W Pidgley

Amount sold: 1,134,176 @ 905.00p

Value: £10,264,293

Berkeley Group Holdings Units (BKG)

Director name: Mr Robert C G Perrins

Amount sold: 387,816 @ 905.00p

Value: £3,509,735

Berkeley Group Holdings Units (BKG)

Director name: Mr Anthony (Tony) Carey

Amount sold: 333,180 @ 905.00p

Value: £3,015,279

Berkeley Group Holdings Units (BKG)

Director name: Mr Gregory J Fry

Amount sold: 223,908 @ 905.00p

Value: £2,026,367

IG Group Holdings (IGG)

Director name: Mr Jonathan R Davie

Amount sold: 100,000 @ 355.00p

Value: £355,000

General Electric (GEC)

Director name: Mr John G. Rice

Amount sold: 17,813 @ € 10.04

Value: € 178,769

General Electric (GEC)

Director name: Mr Keith S. Sherin

Amount sold: 17,521 @ € 10.04

Value: € 175,839

General Electric (GEC)

Director name: Mr Michael A. Neal

Amount sold: 17,271 @ € 10.04

Value: € 173,330

Energy XXI (Bermuda) (Reg S) (EXXS)

Director name: Mr Steven Albert Weyel

Amount sold: 100,000 @ $1.50

Value: $150,000

Energy XXI (Bermuda) (Reg S) (EXXS)

Director name: Mr Steven Albert Weyel

Amount sold: 100,000 @ $1.50

Value: $150,000