Director dealings: Crest Nicholson chairman offloads 250,000 shares in Friday sale

Stephen Stone, executive chairman of housebuilder Crest Nicholson, disposed of 250,000 ordinary shares in the Surrey-based firm on Friday, collecting more than £1.2m in the process.

Stone, who was originally appointed to Crest's board back in 1999, sold the shares at an average price of 482.88p each.

The FTSE 250 firm told investors it was seeing good sales growth across its areas of operation back at its AGM in March.

"Demand for new homes continues to be strong underpinned by high levels of employment and government policies to improve access to housing; levels of sales price inflation have moderated which is also helping to maintain affordability for purchasers," said chairman William Rucker.

In line with its expectations, Crest Nicholson’s total forward sales contributing to the current financial year - including completions in the year-to-date - were at £620m, 15% higher than the £541m achieved at the same point last year.

As of 1640 BST, shares had lost 0.59% to 503.50p.

Top Director Buys

Old Mutual (OML)

Director name: Ms Ingrid Johnson

Amount purchased: 40,862 @ 242.90p

Value: £99,254

Tarsus Group (TRS)

Director name: Mr Robert T E Ware

Amount purchased: 25,000 @ 307.50p

Value: £76,875

Tarsus Group (TRS)

Director name: Mr Neville Buch

Amount purchased: 24,000 @ 306.35p

Value: £73,524

Boku, Inc (DI) Reg S (BOKU)

Director name: Dr Richard Hargreaves

Amount purchased: 59,202 @ 92.90p

Value: £54,999

Keller Group (KLR)

Director name: Mr Nancy Tuor Moore

Amount purchased: 3,000 @ 983.24p

Value: £29,497

The Simplybiz Group (SBIZ)

Director name: Mr Neil Martin Stevens

Amount purchased: 25,000 @ 161.00p

Value: £40,250

Boku, Inc (DI) Reg S (BOKU)

Director name: Dr Richard Hargreaves

Amount purchased: 43,478 @ 92.00p

Value: £40,000

Boku, Inc (DI) Reg S (BOKU)

Director name: Dr Richard Hargreaves

Amount purchased: 43,010 @ 93.00p

Value: £39,999

Boku, Inc (DI) Reg S (BOKU)

Director name: Dr Richard Hargreaves

Amount purchased: 31,568 @ 95.00p

Value: £29,990

Christie Group (CTG)

Director name: Mr Dan Prickett

Amount purchased: 25,000 @ 119.50p

Value: £29,875

Top Director Sells

Crest Nicholson Holdings (CRST)

Director name: Mr Stephen Stone

Amount sold: 250,000 @ 482.88p

Value: £1,207,200

Independent Inv Trust (IIT)

Director name: Mr Douglas Christopher Patrick McDougall

Amount sold: 25,000 @ 735.00p

Value: £183,750

Jardine Matheson Holdings Ltd (Singapore Reg) (JAR)

Director name: Mr Adam Phillip Charles Keswick

Amount sold: 1,075 @ $60.99

Value: $65,564