(Sharecast News) - The chairman of Close Brothers Group picked up some shares in the wake of the specialist financial services group's half-year results.

On 19 March, Michael Biggs purchased 5,000 shares for approximately 288p each, for a total transaction amount of £14,420.00.

Close Brothers's share price had fallen sharply the day before, after reporting that it had fallen deep into red ink as a result of a £165m provision tied to motor finance commissions.

For the six months ending on 31 January, the firm said that it had incurred in a loss before tax of £103m.

For their part, in a research note published on 18 March analysts at ShoreCap told clients that

"We expect shares may come off a bit today on the weak NIM guidance but continue to view the overall risk/reward as favourable with our fair value of 450p implying 30% upside. BUY."

Top Director Buys

Jadestone Energy (JSE)

Director name: Fairclough,Andrew

Amount purchased: 83,625 @ 2,390.00p

Value: £1,998,637.47

Jadestone Energy (JSE)

Director name: Mendelson ,John

Amount purchased: 83,467 @ 2,390.00p

Value: £1,994,861.27

Jadestone Energy (JSE)

Director name: Mendelson ,John

Amount purchased: 83,466 @ 2,390.00p

Value: £1,994,837.37

Diversified Energy Company (DEC)

Director name: Turner, Jr.,David J

Amount purchased: 15,000 @ $13.19

Value: $163,148.34

Informa (INF)

Director name: Smalley,Louise

Amount purchased: 5,050 @ 778.88p

Value: £39,333.44

Close Brothers Group (CBG)

Director name: Biggs,Michael N

Amount purchased: 5,000 @ 288.40p

Value: £14,420.00

Diversified Energy Company (DEC)

Director name: Johnson,David Edward

Amount purchased: 1,250 @ 1,020.00p

Value: £12,750.00

Real Estate Credit Investments Ltd (RECI)

Director name: Thompson,Mark

Amount purchased: 10,000 @ 124.44p

Value: £12,443.60

(HWG)

Director name: Patmore,Katerina

Amount purchased: 6,310 @ 170.10p

Value: £10,733.31

The Renewables Infrastructure Group Limited (TRIG)

Director name: Trixl,Erna-Maria

Amount purchased: 13,650 @ 72.90p

Value: £9,950.58

Savills (SVS)

Director name: Waters ,John

Amount purchased: 1,000 @ 974.92p

Value: £9,749.20

Ct Automotive Group (CTA)

Director name: Bench,Raymond John

Amount purchased: 25,659 @ 27.28p

Value: £6,999.78

Europa Oil & Gas (holdings) (EOG)

Director name: Holland,Will

Amount purchased: 765,763 @ 0.71p

Value: £5,436.92

Sabre Insurance Group (SBRE)

Director name: Carter,Geoffrey Richard

Amount purchased: 3,805 @ 131.40p

Value: £4,999.77

Ct Automotive Group (CTA)

Director name: Bench,Raymond John

Amount purchased: 11,070 @ 27.10p

Value: £2,999.97

Johnson Matthey (JMAT)

Director name: Condon,Liam

Amount purchased: 27 @ 1,444.72p

Value: £390.07

Johnson Matthey (JMAT)

Director name: Oxley,Stephen

Amount purchased: 24 @ 1,444.72p

Value: £346.73

Assura (AGR)

Director name: Cottam,Jayne

Amount purchased: 918 @ 36.30p

Value: £333.23

Assura (AGR)

Director name: Murphy,Jonathan

Amount purchased: 918 @ 36.30p

Value: £333.23

Howden Joinery Group (HWDN)

Director name: Livingston,Andrew

Amount purchased: 21 @ 742.50p

Value: £155.93

Howden Joinery Group (HWDN)

Director name: Hayes,Paul

Amount purchased: 20 @ 742.50p

Value: £148.50

Pennon Group (PNN)

Director name: Davy ,Susan

Amount purchased: 34 @ 434.00p

Value: £147.56

Pennon Group (PNN)

Director name: Flowerdew,Laura

Amount purchased: 34 @ 434.00p

Value: £147.56

Top Director Sells

Boku, Inc (di) Reg S Cat 3/144a (BOKU)

Director name: Prideaux ,Jonathan Peter

Amount sold: 349,205 @ 166.00p

Value: £579,680.29

Boku, Inc (di) Reg S Cat 3/144a (BOKU)

Director name: Prideaux ,Jonathan Peter

Amount sold: 343,700 @ 166.00p

Value: £570,541.99

Keller Group (KLR)

Director name: Burke,David

Amount sold: 33,773 @ 1,408.00p

Value: £475,523.84

Boku, Inc (di) Reg S Cat 3/144a (BOKU)

Director name: Neal,Stuart Paul

Amount sold: 60,300 @ 166.00p

Value: £100,098.00