There has been a raft of director deals over the past week, potentially providing some insight into the prospects of big names such as ASOS (ASC:AIM) and Standard Life Aberdeen (SLA).

Chief executive officer Nick Beighton at online fashion retailer ASOS has recently sold approximately 23,000 shares in the company, raking in an impressive £1.24m.

Investors should not be worried as the shares were sold to meet tax and national insurance liabilities, rather than implying trouble is on the horizon.

Shares in ASOS have recently rebounded from weakness thanks to strong trading after a sales miss earlier this year.

OPPORTUNISTIC BUYING AT STANDARD LIFE ABERDEEN

Elsewhere, higher ups at investment company Standard Life Aberdeen have been snapping up shares on the cheap.

Chief executive officer Martin Gilbert has bought 150,000 shares at 271.6p for £407,490 with chief executive Norman Skeoch acquiring the same number of shares at around the same price for £403,680.

Standard Life Aberdeen has been struggling since its tie-up with Aberdeen Asset Management last year with the situation becoming worse after vital customer, Scottish Widows, terminated a contract in February.

Smaller transactions over the last week include banking group Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) after chairman Howard Davies and chief executive Ross McEwan bought over £300,000 worth of shares.

The high street bank failed to impress the market with its third quarter results as profits were below analysts’ expectations, causing the shares to continue its downward trajectory and leaving it near one-year lows.

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Issue Date: 05 Nov 2018