GEC.L Share News (GEC)

Chief executive Daniel Dayan has increased his stake in nonwoven products supplier Fiberweb. Dayan has invested nearly £80,000 in 129,000 shares at 62p each. That takes his stake to just over 1.14m shares. Finance director Daniel Adams acquired 96,000 shares at the same price - an investment of nearly £60,000. Adams owns 435,309 shares. Fiberweb reported its interim figures in August. Fiberweb improved underlying operating profit by one-quarter to £13.6m in the first half of 2010. Revenues fell 5% to £231.7m but like-for-like trading volumes were 7% ahead. The one weak spot was the hygiene products division, which has been hit by higher raw material prices so its margin has dipped.Underlying pre-tax profit improved from £4.5m to £6.9m but the second half is not expected to be as strong. However, the current full year profit forecast of £10.5m leaves room for further upgrades if trading continues to be strong.Borrowings remain high. Net debt edged up to £141.8m at the end of June 2010 but that was mainly due to high capital spending in the period. The interim dividend is maintained at 1.7p a share. An unchanged total dividend of 4.2p a share equates to a yield of 6.8% at the share price paid for the latest purchases by Dayan and Adams.Top Director BuysFiberweb (FWEB) Director name: Mr Daniel DayanAmount purchased: 129,000 @ 62.00p Value: £79,980Silanis International (SNS) Director name: Mr Justin LaFayetteAmount purchased: 937,978 @ 7.50p Value: £70,348Fiberweb (FWEB) Director name: Mr Daniel AbramsAmount purchased: 96,000 @ 62.00p Value: £59,520Quintain Estates & Development (QED) Director name: Mr William RuckerAmount purchased: 100,000 @ 39.88p Value: £39,880Zenergy Power (ZEN) Director name: Mr John PoulterAmount purchased: 50,000 @ 41.75p Value: £20,875TT Electronics (TTG) Director name: Mr Sean Michael WatsonAmount purchased: 10,000 @ 139.35p Value: £13,935Top Director SellsHochschild Mining (HOC) Director name: Mr Roberto DañinoAmount sold: 137,691 @ 388.88p Value: £535,453General Electric (GEC) Director name: Mr Keith S. SherinAmount sold: 8,728 @ € 12.53 Value: € 109,384General Electric (GEC) Director name: Mr John G. RiceAmount sold: 8,656 @ € 12.53 Value: € 108,481General Electric (GEC) Director name: Mr Michael A. NealAmount sold: 8,590 @ € 12.53 Value: € 107,654General Electric (GEC) Director name: Mr Pamela DaleyAmount sold: 2,543 @ € 12.53 Value: € 31,870General Electric (GEC) Director name: Ms Kathryn CassidyAmount sold: 1,432 @ € 12.53 Value: € 17,947