National Grid boss buys more shares

National Grid's chairman Sir John Parker today spent nearly £110,000 building up his stake in the power and gas grid operator.He bought 20,000 shares at 549.5p a time and now has 134,712.National Grid said that its operating profit is "significantly ahead of last year" in its trading statement for the period between 1 October 2010 and 30 January 2011. The strong first half momentum has been repeated so far in the second half, which should enable earnings per share to be maintained this year even after the dilutive effect of the May 2010 rights issue, it said.Sir John has been chairman of National Grid since 2002, following the merger of gas transmission business Lattice, where he had been chairman since 2000. He is also chairman of the miner Anglo American and chancellor of the University of Southampton.Top Director BuysNational Grid (NG.) Director name: Sir John ParkerAmount purchased: 20,000 @ 549.47p Value: £109,894Eurasia Mining (EUA) Director name: Mr Gary FitzGeraldAmount purchased: 6,491,308 @ 1.00p Value: £64,913Eurasia Mining (EUA) Director name: Mr Michael MartineauAmount purchased: 5,567,600 @ 1.00p Value: £55,676Eurasia Mining (EUA) Director name: Mr Christian SchaffalitzkyAmount purchased: 3,000,000 @ 1.00p Value: £30,000E2V Technologies (E2V) Director name: Dr Krishnamurthy RajagopalAmount purchased: 20,000 @ 117.00p Value: £23,400Renew Holdings (RNWH) Director name: Mr Roy J HarrisonAmount purchased: 40,000 @ 58.00p Value: £23,200Top Director SellsOxford Instruments (OXIG) Director name: Mr Charles HolroydAmount sold: 73,208 @ 654.65p Value: £479,256Andor Technology (AND) Director name: Mr Chris CallingAmount sold: 100,000 @ 460.00p Value: £460,000Oxford Instruments (OXIG) Director name: Mr Jonathan FlintAmount sold: 41,283 @ 654.65p Value: £270,259Oxford Instruments (OXIG) Director name: Mr Kevin BoydAmount sold: 33,576 @ 654.65p Value: £219,805Porvair (PRV) Director name: Mr Christopher TylerAmount sold: 145,500 @ 123.00p Value: £178,965Porvair (PRV) Director name: Mr Ben StocksAmount sold: 135,500 @ 123.00p Value: £166,665Whitbread (WTB) Director name: Mr Christopher C B RogersAmount sold: 2,129 @ 1,734.60p Value: £36,930Whitbread (WTB) Director name: Mr Patrick DempseyAmount sold: 2,129 @ 1,734.60p Value: £36,930