Directors dealings: Rio non-exec digs into miner's shares

Robert Brown, a non-executive director at Rio Tinto, picked up 4,500 American Depositary Receipts in the miner at an individual price of US$46.27, pocketing out a total of US$208,215 in the process.

On 8 February, the Australia-focused miner reported full-year net earnings of $4.6bn compared to a loss of $866m the year before as most commodity prices rose for the first time in a number years in the second half of 2016, despite numerous political and macro shocks to the global economy.

Almost a week afterwards, on 14 February, analysts at Macquarie reiterated their 'outperform' recommendation and 4,335p target price on the shares on the heels of a sell-side analyst roundtable with Rio's finance chief, Chris Lynch.

"The discussion focused on RIO's organic growth options, detailing the $5.0bn productivity target and potential for further capital management given current iron-ore price strength."

"CFO Chris Lynch reiterated there are only three destinations for RIO’s cash generation—capital expenditure, strengthening the balance sheet, or shareholder returns.

"A lift in the US$0.5bn share buy-back post the sale of Coal & Allied looks likely, with dividend payouts expected to be towards the upper end of the payout range."

Top Director Buys

Damille Investments Ii Ltd (DIL2)
Director name: Miller,Brett Lance
Amount purchased: 449,910 @ 132.68p
Value: £596,934.31

Rio Tinto (RIO)
Director name: Brown,Robert
Amount purchased: 4,500 @ $46.27
Value: $208,215

Electrocomponents (ECM)
Director name: Guerra,Karen
Amount purchased: 5,226 @ 479.00p
Value: £25,032.54

Chaarat Gold Holdings Ltd. (di) (CGH)
Director name: Andersson,Martin
Amount purchased: 150,000 @ 15.00p
Value: £22,500.00

Avon Rubber (AVON)
Director name: Rayner,Paul A
Amount purchased: 1,700 @ 994.00p
Value: £16,898.00

Touchstar (TST)
Director name: Martin,Ian Paul
Amount purchased: 10,000 @ 88.00p
Value: £8,800.00

Chaarat Gold Holdings Ltd. (di) (CGH)
Director name: Andersson,Martin
Amount purchased: 50,000 @ 14.50p
Value: £7,250.00

Avon Rubber (AVON)
Director name: Rayner,Paul A
Amount purchased: 350 @ 994.00p
Value: £3,479.00

Avon Rubber (AVON)
Director name: Rayner,Paul A
Amount purchased: 150 @ 994.00p
Value: £1,491.00

Avon Rubber (AVON)
Director name: Rayner,Paul A
Amount purchased: 150 @ 994.00p
Value: £1,491.00

Avon Rubber (AVON)
Director name: Rayner,Paul A
Amount purchased: 150 @ 994.00p
Value: £1,491.00

Sthree (STHR)
Director name: Elden,Gary
Amount purchased: 57 @ 329.00p
Value: £187.53

Sthree (STHR)
Director name: Smith,Alex
Amount purchased: 57 @ 329.00p
Value: £187.53

United Utilities Group (UU.)
Director name: Houlden,Russ
Amount purchased: 19 @ 947.04p
Value: £179.94

British Land Company (BLND)
Director name: Grigg,Chris
Amount purchased: 25 @ 606.16p
Value: £151.54

British Land Company (BLND)
Director name: Roberts,Timothy Andrew
Amount purchased: 25 @ 606.16p
Value: £151.54

British Land Company (BLND)
Director name: Bell,Lucinda
Amount purchased: 25 @ 606.16p
Value: £151.54

Aa (AA.)
Director name: Clarke,Martin C
Amount purchased: 59 @ 256.00p
Value: £151.04

Aa (AA.)
Director name: Mackenzie,Bob
Amount purchased: 59 @ 256.00p
Value: £151.04

Aa (AA.)
Director name: Clarke,Martin C
Amount purchased: 59 @ 256.00p
Value: £151.04

Sig (SHI)
Director name: Monro,Richard
Amount purchased: 133 @ 112.72p
Value: £149.92

Sig (SHI)
Director name: Monro,Richard
Amount purchased: 133 @ 112.72p
Value: £149.92

Zotefoams (ZTF)
Director name: McGrath ,Gary
Amount purchased: 53 @ 281.53p
Value: £149.21

Zotefoams (ZTF)
Director name: Stirling,David
Amount purchased: 53 @ 281.53p
Value: £149.21

Emis Group (EMIS)
Director name: Southby,Peter
Amount purchased: 16 @ 925.50p
Value: £148.08

Go-ahead Group (GOG)
Director name: Ferguson,Carolyn
Amount purchased: 6 @ 2,291.00p
Value: £137.46

Go-ahead Group (GOG)
Director name: Brown,David
Amount purchased: 6 @ 2,291.00p
Value: £137.46

Imi (IMI)
Director name: Selway,Mark W
Amount purchased: 10 @ 1,216.75p
Value: £121.67

Imi (IMI)
Director name: Twite,Roy
Amount purchased: 10 @ 1,216.75p
Value: £121.67

Imi (IMI)
Director name: Shook ,Daniel
Amount purchased: 10 @ 1,216.75p
Value: £121.67

Go-ahead Group (GOG)
Director name: Edwards,Paul
Amount purchased: 5 @ 2,291.00p
Value: £114.55

Top Director Sells

Royal Dutch Shell 'a' (RDSA)
Director name: Henry,Simon
Amount sold: 50,000 @ 2,285.00p
Value: £1,142,500.02