Caroline Nish, the wife of Standard Life's chief executive David Nish, has taken more shares in the insurer, spending £100,000.

She took 49,335 shares at 201.4p a pop and now has 620,744.

In a trading update in April, David Nish said Standard Life had a good start to 2011.

"Strong sales across our long-term savings business are evidence that our market-leading products and platforms are performing well," he said.

"We had a busy first quarter with the launch of several new propositions, including Lifelens, our innovative employee pensions, savings and benefits portal, and the relaunch of an enhanced Adviserzone, our support platform for financial advisers. "

Top Director Buys

Standard Life (SL.)
Director name: Mr David Thomas Nish
Amount purchased: 49,355 @ 201.40p
Value: £99,401

Melrose Resources (MRS)
Director name: Mr Robert F M Adair
Amount purchased: 25,000 @ 236.50p
Value: £59,125

F&C Asset Management (FCAM)
Director name: Mr Edward Bramson
Amount purchased: 80,000 @ 73.66p
Value: £58,928

Big Yellow Group (BYG)
Director name: Mr Steve Johnson
Amount purchased: 10,000 @ 314.30p
Value: £31,430

Avanti Communications Group (AVN)
Director name: Major William Wyatt
Amount purchased: 7,142 @ 350.00p
Value: £24,997

Avanti Communications Group (AVN)
Director name: Mr D Alan Foster
Amount purchased: 4,000 @ 346.50p
Value: £13,860

IS Solutions (ISL)
Director name: Mr Michael Tinling
Amount purchased: 29,041 @ 36.50p
Value: £10,600


Top Director Sells

Albemarle & Bond Holdings (ABM)
Director name: Mr Greville V Nicholls
Amount sold: 17,986 @ 340.00p
Value: £61,152

El Oro Ltd (ELX)
Director name: Mr C R W Parish
Amount sold: 3,245 @ 610.00p
Value: £19,794

Related share prices
El Oro Ltd (ELX) share price
F&C Asset Management (FCAM) share price
IS Solutions (ISL) share price
Big Yellow Group (BYG) share price
Melrose Resources (MRS) share price
Albemarle & Bond Holdings (ABM) share price
Standard Life (SL.) share price
Avanti Communications Group (AVN) share price