The chairman of ceramics, electronics and precious metals supplier Cookson Jeffrey Harris has increased his holding in the company by 50%, spending more than £60,000 on shares.

He took 10,000 shares at 616.2p a go and now has 30,000. Shares in the company have rallied sharply since his last purchase in September, when he took 10,000 shares at 424p a time.

In an update last month, Harris said Cookson's surging profits in 2010 demonstrate how well it has recovered from the 2008/09 global economic crisis. He said trading over the first four months of 2011 has been "very encouraging."

Harris is also chairman of the distribution and outsourcing firm Bunzl and a non-executive director at the newsagent chain WH Smith.

The ceramics business, which trades under the brand names Vesuvius and Foseco, is Cookson's largest division, accounting for more than 60% of profits and revenues in 2010.

Top Director Buys

Cookson Group (CKSN)
Director name: Mr Jeffrey Francis Harris
Amount purchased: 10,000 @ 616.24p
Value: £61,624

F&C Asset Management (FCAM)
Director name: Mr Edward Bramson
Amount purchased: 35,367 @ 74.22p
Value: £26,249

F&C Asset Management (FCAM)
Director name: Mr Edward Bramson
Amount purchased: 35,367 @ 74.22p
Value: £26,249

Green Dragon Gas Ltd. (DI) (GDG)
Director name: Mr David Turnbull
Amount purchased: 2,000 @ $9.50
Value: $19,000


Top Director Sells

Investec (INVP)
Director name: Mr Hendrik du Toit
Amount sold: 281,250 @ 475.00p
Value: £1,335,938

Halma (HLMA)
Director name: Mr Neil Quinn
Amount sold: 21,000 @ 399.02p
Value: £83,794

Related share prices
Cookson Group (CKSN) share price
Halma (HLMA) share price
F&C Asset Management (FCAM) share price
Investec (INVP) share price
Green Dragon Gas Ltd. (DI) (GDG) share price