The Insider | Li Ka-shing tops insider buy-backs, purchasing 11.2 million shares in CK Asset Holdings

The buying fell while the selling among directors was flat based on exchange filings from April 16 to 20. Buyers outweighed sellers with 48 companies that recorded 247 purchases worth HK$1.13 billion (US$144.1 million) versus 16 companies with 73 disposals worth HK$79 million.

The buy value, however, was sharply up from the previous week’s acquisitions worth HK$482 million. The huge buy value was mainly due to tycoon Li Ka-shing with 11.2 million shares purchased in CK Asset Holdings worth HK$741 million. The purchases were significant as those are his first trades in CK Asset since June 2015. The stock closed flat from the chairman’s purchase price of HK$66.36 to HK$67.65 on Friday. On the selling side, the number of companies and trades were not far off from the previous week’s 17 companies and 66 disposals.

While the buying by directors fell last week, the buy-back activity surged with 29 companies that posted 120 repurchases worth HK$682 million based on filings from April 13 to 19.

There were several rare acquisitions last week with buy-backs in Yue Yuen Industrial, Asia Financial Holdings, Beijing Enterprises Water and Emperor Watch & Jewellery and insider buys in Eagle Nice Holdings.

Footwear manufacturer Yue Yuen Industrial recorded its first buy-back since December 2017 with 6.58 million shares purchased on April 13 at HK$24.33 each. The trade was made on the back of the 36 per cent drop in the share price since January 22. The group previously acquired 427,000 shares from November 30 to December 1, 2017 at an average of HK$27.79 each. The stock closed at HK$22.35 on Friday.