Boss' s wife splashes out on Standard Life shares

The wife of Standard Life's chief executive has spent nearly £300,000 on a stake in the insurer, the day after the company announced it had a "good" 2010.Caroline Nish, wife of David, bought 125,000 shares at 2,24p a time, taking the couple's stake to about 550,000 shares.The UK's fourth-largest insurer reported inflows up 46% in 2010 and the insurer says it's made a strong start to 2011."Our financial performance has been strong, with higher net flows and markets increasing the value of assets and revenues and leading to growth in profits," David Nish said. "We've also made significant operational progress to drive efficiencies and are on track to meet our target of £100m of margin improvement by 2012."Top Director BuysStandard Life (SL.) Director name: Mr David Thomas NishAmount purchased: 125,000 @ 223.90p Value: £279,875Utilico Investments Ltd (DI) (UTL) Director name: Mr J. Michael CollierAmount purchased: 55,000 @ 169.00p Value: £92,950Utilico Investments Ltd (DI) (UTL) Director name: Mr J. Michael CollierAmount purchased: 45,000 @ 173.00p Value: £77,850Glanbia (GLB) Director name: Mr Jeremiah Vincent ListonAmount purchased: 10,000 @ € 4.20 Value: € 41,980Aga Rangemaster Group (AGA) Director name: Mr Shaun M SmithAmount purchased: 10,000 @ 127.67p Value: £12,767Scottish Mortgage Inv Trust (SMT) Director name: Mr John ScottAmount purchased: 1,454 @ 698.00p Value: £10,149Top Director SellsFiltrona PLC (FLTR) Director name: Mr Mark HarperAmount sold: 293,507 @ 306.10p Value: £898,425Rolls-Royce Group (RR.) Director name: Sir Sir John E V RoseAmount sold: 135,717 @ 607.03p Value: £823,843Restaurant Group (RTN) Director name: Ms Trish CorzineAmount sold: 242,709 @ 295.74p Value: £717,788Amlin (AML) Director name: Mr Charles E L PhilippsAmount sold: 108,661 @ 405.45p Value: £440,566Rolls-Royce Group (RR.) Director name: Mr Andrew B ShilstonAmount sold: 63,867 @ 607.03p Value: £387,692Restaurant Group (RTN) Director name: Mr Robert MorganAmount sold: 128,953 @ 295.74p Value: £381,366Rolls-Royce Group (RR.) Director name: Mr Mike TerrettAmount sold: 58,061 @ 607.03p Value: £352,448Rolls-Royce Group (RR.) Director name: Mr Colin P SmithAmount sold: 44,852 @ 607.03p Value: £272,265Ultra Electronics Holdings (ULE) Director name: Mr Douglas CasterAmount sold: 12,806 @ 1,699.00p Value: £217,574Prudential (PRU) Director name: Mr Barry StoweAmount sold: 22,715 @ 734.00p Value: £166,728