Apple Inc (AAPL)

[JohnSamuel]

Apple share buybacks - 9:51 EST - FactSet says S&P 500 companies bought back an aggregate $143.4B in stock during 3Q, the fourth highest quarterly amount going back to 2005, and up 16% vs the year ago quarter. On a trailing 12 month basis, the buyback amount was up 27% to $567.2B vs the year earlier period, the firm says. A big chunk of the activity was driven by Apple (AAPL), urged on, of course, by Carl Icahn . FactSet says AAPL spent $55.9B on buybacks during the trailing 12 months, almost three times more than second-highest spender. IBM,dished out $19.3B. The firm notes 75% of S%P 500 companies bought back stock in 3Q. ([e-mail])

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12-17-14 0951ET
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