** Shares of debt buyer Encore Capital Group ECPG.O rise as much as 5.5%; last up 2.4% at $35.30

** Stock set to snap six-session losing streak if gains hold

** Late Wednesday, ECPG CEO Ashish Masih disclosed he had acquired 20,000 shares for $702,800

** Director Ashwini Gupta also bought 40,000 shares for $1.4 million

** Market participants tend to track the trading activity of executives as investors believe insiders could have a clearer view of the company's outlook

** ECPG stock down 26.1% YTD

(Reporting by Arasu Kannagi Basil in Bengaluru)

((ArasuKannagi.Basil@thomsonreuters.com))