Gold-Silver Ratio Hits 100:1 – A Historic Buying Signal for Silver 
Corporate America is dramatically cutting back on share repurchases, with March 2024 buyback announcements dropping to $39.1 billion—the lowest monthly figure since the pandemic and the lowest March total in five years.
This retreat comes despite companies executing buybacks at near-record levels earlier in 2024. The slowdown reflects executive uncertainty about Trump’s imminent tariff announcements and potential retaliatory measures from trade partners, which could increase inflation and unemployment.
According to Birinyi Associates, companies are conserving cash rather than cutting dividends while awaiting clarity on trade policies. With the Federal Reserve postponing interest rate cuts until inflation subsides, the pullback in buybacks—a crucial support mechanism for equity prices—may prevent markets from rebounding from recent downturns. Upcoming earnings reports starting with JPMorgan Chase on April 11 may provide insight into future buyback trends.
