Buybacks Lowest Since 2009 as CEOs Push Up Capital Spending
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Stock buybacks are falling to a three-year low just as U.S. chief executive officers boost spending on plants and equipment to a record.
Companies announced $1.1 billion of repurchases a day on average during the earnings season in April and May, the lowest level since mid-2009, according to data compiled by Bloomberg and TrimTabs Investment Research Inc. Capital spending in the U.S. has risen since 2010 and reached $63.6 billion in March. Devon Energy Corp. eliminated buybacks and boosted exploration and production spending 18 percent. United Parcel Service Inc. cut repurchases in order to buy TNT Express NV.