LONDON (ShareCast) - The Financial Director of Home Retail, Richard Ashton, on Thursday sold 249,975 shares in the household goods retailer, three weeks after the company raised its full-year profit expectations on the back of increased sales at its Argos business over the Christmas period.

The shares were sold at 127.52p a time, costing the director £318,768 altogether.

In an update published in mid-January, the company said sales at Argos stores open more than a year rose 2.7% in the 18 weeks to January 5th, ahead of a consensus forecast for a 0.2% increase and a 1.4% climb in its second quarter.

The results were driven by growth in sales of electrical products, white goods and toys as consumers picked up gifts during the festive season. Homewares and jewellery were the weaker performers.

While Home Retail benefited from the strong performance at Argos its Homebase business was a different story.

Total sales at the home improvement and garden chain declined by 4.5% to £453m as the company closed three stores during the period, reducing its portfolio to 337.


Top Director Buys

BP (BP.)
Director name: Mr Paul Anderson
Amount purchased: 24,000 @ 463.12p
Value: £111,149

Energy XXI (Bermuda) (Di) (EXXI)
Director name: Mr John Daniel Schiller Jr
Amount purchased: 5,000 @ $32.25
Value: $161,250

Northern 2 VCT (NTV)
Director name: Mr Edward Michael P Denny
Amount purchased: 45,000 @ 80.41p
Value: £36,184

Energy XXI (Bermuda) (Di) (EXXI)
Director name: Mr John Daniel Schiller Jr
Amount purchased: 950 @ $32.16
Value: $30,552

3i Group (III)
Director name: Sir Adrian Montague CBE
Amount purchased: 10,752 @ 279.00p
Value: £29,998

Northern Venture Trust (NVT)
Director name: Mr Nigel Beer
Amount purchased: 22,334 @ 89.55p
Value: £20,000

Sigma Capital Group (SGM)
Director name: Mr Graeme Hogg
Amount purchased: 326,000 @ 6.00p
Value: £19,560

Energy XXI (Bermuda) (Di) (EXXI)
Director name: Mr John Daniel Schiller Jr
Amount purchased: 415 @ $32.16
Value: $13,346


Top Director Sells

Mattioli Woods (MTW)
Director name: Mr Robert Woods
Amount sold: 200,000 @ 240.00p
Value: £480,000

Mattioli Woods (MTW)
Director name: Mr Ian Thomas Mattioli
Amount sold: 200,000 @ 240.00p
Value: £480,000

Mattioli Woods (MTW)
Director name: Mr Murray Beveridge Smith
Amount sold: 187,500 @ 240.00p
Value: £450,000

Mattioli Woods (MTW)
Director name: Mr Mark Smith
Amount sold: 187,500 @ 240.00p
Value: £450,000

Home Retail Group (HOME)
Director name: Mr Richard Ashton
Amount sold: 249,975 @ 127.52p
Value: £318,768

Mattioli Woods (MTW)
Director name: Mr Nathan James McLean Imlach
Amount sold: 53,833 @ 240.00p
Value: £129,199

Mattioli Woods (MTW)
Director name: Mr Nathan James McLean Imlach
Amount sold: 37,209 @ 240.00p
Value: £89,302

Mattioli Woods (MTW)
Director name: Mr Nathan James McLean Imlach
Amount sold: 21,958 @ 240.00p
Value: £52,699

NR

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