Shares in Admiral won back some recent losses after the car insurance company announced some big director purchases.

Chief operating officer David Stevens and his wife Heather bought 75,450 shares at 1,324p and now have 10.3m. Non-executive director John Sussens's wife Cheryl bought 22,000 at 1,320p and now has 22,000 shares in the company. Chairman Alastair Lyons bought 20,000 shares at 1,272p, taking his family's stake to 482,000.

Shares in Admiral suffered big losses even after it said on Wednesday that turnover jumped 53% to £1.1bn from £720.5m the year before, prompting a jubilant chief executive officer Henry Engelhardt to comment that "it wasn't so long ago that we were pleased to report over £1bn turnover for a full year."

Today's bout of director buying has helped firm up the share price though.

Top Director Buys

Lookers (LOOK)
Director name: Mr D C A Bramall
Amount purchased: 3,000,000 @ 50.50p
Value: £1,515,000

Admiral Group (ADM)
Director name: Mr David Stevens
Amount purchased: 75,450 @ 1,324.00p
Value: £998,958

Admiral Group (ADM)
Director name: Mr John Sussens
Amount purchased: 22,000 @ 1,320.00p
Value: £290,400

Admiral Group (ADM)
Director name: Mr Alastair Lyons
Amount purchased: 20,000 @ 1,272.00p
Value: £254,400

John Menzies (MNZS)
Director name: Mr Paul B Dollman
Amount purchased: 21,684 @ 492.00p
Value: £106,685

F&C Asset Management (FCAM)
Director name: Mr Edward Bramson
Amount purchased: 126,362 @ 66.52p
Value: £84,056

Banco Santander SA (BNC)
Director name: Mr Francisco Luzon Lopez
Amount purchased: 8,265 @ 534.31p
Value: £44,161

Lloyds Banking Group (LLOY)
Director name: Mr Truett Tate
Amount purchased: 175,746 @ 28.45p
Value: £50,000

Premier Oil (PMO)
Director name: Mr Michael W Welton
Amount purchased: 15,211 @ 328.70p
Value: £49,999

Banco Santander SA (BNC)
Director name: Mr Francisco Luzon Lopez
Amount purchased: 8,195 @ 538.73p
Value: £44,149


Top Director Sells

Tesco (TSCO)
Director name: Mr Andrew Higginson
Amount sold: 300,000 @ 371.90p
Value: £1,115,700

Related share prices
Lloyds Banking Group (LLOY) share price
Tesco (TSCO) share price
F&C Asset Management (FCAM) share price
Lookers (LOOK) share price
Menzies(John) (MNZS) share price
Premier Oil (PMO) share price
Admiral Group (ADM) share price
Banco Santander SA (BNC) share price