Laird Share News (LRD)

(ShareCast News) - Laird´s new boss and finance chief took advantage of the recent crash in the share price to pick-up stock in the firm they lead.On 19 October the manufacturer of products for wireless telecommunications said trading improved a bit in the third quarter - helped by currency shifts - but warned profits for the full-year would be lower than expected due to delays in the mobile devices cycle and increased margin pressure.This made for a "very challenging trading performance" for its Performance Materials (PM) arm in the three months to 30 September, which led new chief executive Tony Quinlan to cut full-year guidance for underlying profit before tax to around £50m, with the analyst consensus nearer £75m.That prompted analysts Alexander Mees and Olivia Hurley at JP Morgan to tell clients: "There is no certainty at this stagethat pricing pressure will alleviate in the near-term. Laird also states that 'visibility on volumes remains poor'. We forecast year-end ND/EBITDA of 3.3x, which would see Laird remain within its covenant limit of 3.5x. Despite this, the uncertainty around trading causes us to lower our rating to Neutral with a 200p December 2017 price target."The next day, the company´s chief executive Tony Quinlan and his wife bought 20,000 shares at a price of 168.55p, for a total consideration of £33,710.07.Two days after the company´s warning, finance chief Kevin Dangerfield followed suit, buying 10,000 shares, disembursing £16,976.00 in the process. Top Director BuysMotorpoint Group (MOTR)Director name: Shelton,David Amount purchased: 520,000 @ 138.00pValue: £717,600.00Motorpoint Group (MOTR)Director name: Carpenter,MarkAmount purchased: 520,000 @ 138.00pValue: £717,600.00Reckitt Benckiser Group (RB.)Director name: Hennah,Adrian NevilAmount purchased: 8,959 @ 7,218.70pValue: £646,723.78Motorpoint Group (MOTR)Director name: Morris,Mark CAmount purchased: 260,000 @ 138.00pValue: £358,800.00Ocado Group (OCDO)Director name: McCallum,DouglasAmount purchased: 80,000 @ 277.25pValue: £221,800.00Maxcyte (di/reg S) (MXCT)Director name: Johnston ,John Amount purchased: 37,500 @ 98.00pValue: £36,750.00Maxcyte (di/reg S) (MXCT)Director name: Johnston ,John Amount purchased: 37,500 @ 96.00pValue: £36,000.00Marwyn Value Investors Limited (MVI)Director name: Hobbs ,Ronald Amount purchased: 20,813 @ 143.00pValue: £29,762.59Synectics (SNX)Director name: Webb ,Paul Amount purchased: 10,000 @ 212.00pValue: £21,200.00Laird (LRD)Director name: Quinlan,Anthony (Tony) JamesAmount purchased: 11,007 @ 169.00pValue: £18,601.83Laird (LRD)Director name: Dangerfield,KevinAmount purchased: 10,000 @ 169.76pValue: £16,976.00Laird (LRD)Director name: Quinlan,Anthony (Tony) JamesAmount purchased: 8,993 @ 168.00pValue: £15,108.24Synectics (SNX)Director name: Stilwell,Mike Amount purchased: 6,910 @ 212.00pValue: £14,649.20Toro Limited (TORO)Director name: Hervouet,FredericAmount purchased: 16,000 @ € 0.87Value: € 13,920.00Rtc Group (RTC)Director name: Douie,W. J. C.Amount purchased: 25,000 @ 41.00pValue: £10,250.00Avacta Group (AVCT)Director name: Owen,MikeAmount purchased: 7,763 @ 90.00pValue: £6,986.70Gresham House (GHE)Director name: Preston,John-Paul Amount purchased: 1,673 @ 298.70pValue: £4,997.25Ocado Group (OCDO)Director name: Richardson,Mark Amount purchased: 56 @ 267.50pValue: £149.80Ocado Group (OCDO)Director name: Tatton-Brown,DuncanAmount purchased: 56 @ 267.50pValue: £149.80Ocado Group (OCDO)Director name: Abrams,NeillAmount purchased: 56 @ 267.50pValue: £149.80Homeserve (HSV)Director name: Harpin,RichardAmount purchased: 23 @ 628.07pValue: £144.46Homeserve (HSV)Director name: Bennett,MartinAmount purchased: 23 @ 628.07pValue: £144.46Top Director SellsRegional Reit Limited (RGL)Director name: Inglis,StephenAmount sold: 750,000 @ 103.39pValue: £775,425.02