Directors at Barratt Developments bought more than £400,000 of the house builder’s shares on Wednesday at close to a two-year low. Sunday Times

Chief executive Mark Clare spent about £250,000 on 37,203 shares at 670.65p each, nearly 50% lower than the record high of 1,289p in February. Finance chief Mark Pain bought 15,000 shares at 681p each for a total of £102,000, while non-executive director Robert Davies paid £61,000 for 9,000 at 680.2p.