$Apple (AAPL.US)$ $Microsoft (MSFT.US)$ $Alphabet-C (GOOG.US)$
KEY BACKGROUND
Companies are now flush with cash to make stock repurchases – Pence indicated that S&P 500 companies held $1.9 trillion in cash at the end of 2020 – the highest level ever and up nearly $400 billion compared to 2019. For now, Pence said, companies making the majority of share repurchases are currently trading at a discount to the broader market – suggesting they are optimistic about higher share prices going forward. Graham also noted that big banks are facing Federal Reserve-mandated stress tests to determine if they can resume normal levels of share buybacks. But since these banks are “sitting on significant levels of excess capital,” that should allow them to easily navigate next month’s stress tests and eventually accelerate stock buyback programs, which, in turn, could lead investors to increase their exposure to banking stocks. Winston Chua, an analyst at EPFR Global, cited another reason companies repurchase shares. “Buybacks increase a company’s earnings per share without an actual increase in profits. This would in turn drop the [price-earnings] ratio, making the company look more attractive,” he told Forbes.
SURPRISING FACT
Some stock buybacks can actually be bad for a company, as they can reduce a company’s ability to weather a crisis. Pence cited the airlines as an example. Over the last decade, he said, the biggest U.S. airlines spent 96% of their free cash flow on buybacks, and as a result had to get U.S. government support to the tune of around $54 billion between The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, omnibus Covid relief deal, and the American Rescue Plan when Covid crimped demand for air travel.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR
Burns McKinney, managing director and portfolio manager at NFJ Investment Group in Dallas, told Forbes he expects buybacks to “ramp up” throughout this year. “Corporate cash balances remain high, and optimism is rising,” he said. “This may be particularly true of the banks, as restrictions on buybacks and dividends [expire].”

$Advanced Micro Devices (AMD.US)$ Chipmaker AMD, rebounds from short downtrend
AMD stock rebounded from its 50-day moving average line in a show of strength on Monday. However, trading volume in AMD stock has been underwhelming lately. Volume on Monday was 23% below average. Aggressive investors could have used 106.98 as an entry point. That's just above last Thursday's high.
- AMD stock rebounded from its 50-day moving average line
- Aggressive investors could have used 106.98 as an entry point
- AMD is forming a double-bottom base with a 114.59 buy point

$PayPal (PYPL.US)$ Paypal price has currently met two strong supports and is looking like a very good buy to hold onto for the next few weeks/months.

$AMC Entertainment (AMC.US)$ Same set up on a weekly. All time low to all time high 50% retracement retest. stops below the 61.8. Profit target at 88.

$Hang Seng Index (800000.HK)$ The Hang Seng Index was blocked at 24700, and there is no upward momentum for the time being. In practice again and again, we found that the Hang Seng Index has its own independent trend. It is not necessary to follow the mom or dad, and often run away from home, and it will be a big drop in the slightest pressure.

$TENCENT (00700.HK)$ The funds for the purchase of Hong Kong stocks are bought for one day and sold for one day (and they are often chased in at high prices), and then they fall and sell quickly. In recent months, there has only been a range of fluctuations.

$TENCENT (00700.HK)$ Actually, there have been no major moves in the past few days. Investors return today, there is still a wave of market trends, but the specifics still depend on whether there is continuity tomorrow.

$Boeing (BA.US)$
- Price has found a level of support
- Looking for a move towards the 200 ma then $245 zone
- A daily close below $207 negates the idea

The market and watch list are not performing well, and there is no incentive for the time being to agree to buy stocks. $iShares Russell 2000 Growth ETF (IWO.US)$, $iShares Russell 2000 ETF (IWM.US)$ keep moving sin wave since February. No trend at all.