FOR the first four sessions of 2021, the Straits Times Index (STI) gained 2.2 per cent, with the Nikkei 225 Index, Hang Seng Index and S& P/ASX 200 Index averaging 1.7 per cent gains.

 

The iEdge S-Reit Leaders Index gained 0.8 per cent.

 

Share buybacks

 

There were nine primary-listed stocks conducting share buybacks over the four sessions with a total consideration of S$6.1 million.

 

The consideration was led by two STI stocks: Yangzijiang Shipbuilding (Holdings) and Wilmar International.

 

Yangzijiang Shipbuilding bought back four million shares at an average price of 97.62 Singapore cents per share, while Wilmar International bought back 252,000 shares at an average price of S$4.85.

 

As of Jan 7, the current buyback mandate had seen Yangzijiang Shipbuilding buy back 70,249,200 shares, or 1.79 per cent of its issued shares (excluding treasury shares) as of the date of the current share buyback resolution.

 

The company began buying back its shares on this current mandate on May 30, 2020.

 

On that day, the buybacks were transacted at between 90 Singapore cents and 91.50 cents per share.

 

As of Jan 6, the current mandate had seen Wilmar International buy back 44,968,400 shares or 0.71 per cent of its issued shares (excluding treasury shares) as of the date of the current share buyback resolution.

 

Wilmar International began buying back shares on the current mandate on Nov 2.

 

On that day, the buybacks were transacted at between S$4.11 and S$4.28 per share.

 

For 2020, 100 Singapore Exchange (SGX) primary-listed stocks conducted buybacks with a total consideration of S$1.03 billion, with 12 of the current STI stocks accounting for 82 per cent of the total transaction consideration.

 

Of the 100 stocks, Wilmar International filed the second-largest buyback consideration, while Yangzijiang Shipbuilding filed the fourth- largest buyback consideration for the 2020 calendar year.

 

Both these stocks are also the largest constituents of the FTSE ST China Index.

 

Director and substantial shareholder transactions

 

The four trading sessions saw close to 50 changes in director interests and substantial shareholdings filed for 23 primary-listed stocks.

 

These included four company director acquisitions, with one disposal filed, and substantial shareholders filing seven acquisitions and one disposal.