Aug 19, 2022

Why we love to hate stock buybacks

General Motors says it will buy back $5 billion worth of its own stock, but critics say the company could use the money to pay workers more or advance green initiatives. Mario Tama/Getty Images

Companies will sometimes repurchase their own shares to try to boost their stock price. But couldn't that cash go toward other investments? Plus, streaming faces bandwidth challenges and diningware goes edible.

Segments From this episode

Weekly Wrap

Marketplace host Kai Ryssdal speaks to Brian Cheung at Yahoo Finance, and Kate Davidson at Politico, about inflation, conflicting economic data, and more, for the Weekly Wrap

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Stock buybacks: the pros and cons for companies and investors

by Lily Jamali

Aug 19, 2022

GM plans to buy back $5 billion worth of its own stock. Why do critics love to hate this corporate maneuver?

General Motors says it will buy back $5 billion worth of its own stock, but critics say the company could use the money to pay workers more or advance green initiatives.

Mario Tama/Getty Images

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My Economy

The origins of a glass recycling empire

by Sarah Leeson

Aug 19, 2022

The sand Glass Half Full creates from processed bottles is repurposed for flood disaster relief and mitigating coastal erosion, among other things.

Glass Half Full turns the glass it collects into a sand product that can be used in anything from art to disaster relief.

Courtesy Glass Half Full

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What's next for streaming, after it surpasses cable?

by Justin Ho

Aug 19, 2022

In July, people spent more time streaming than watching cable TV for the first time. But streaming firms still have obstacles ahead.

Nearly 90% of U.S. households have a subscription to a streaming service, but not all areas have the bandwidth to support high levels of streaming.

Chris Delmas/AFP via Getty Images

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In 2022, you can clean your plate, then eat it

by Kai Ryssdal and Anais Amin

Aug 19, 2022

From forks and spoons to straws and plates, edible tableware is a growing sustainability trend, says Axios' Jennifer Kingson.

"One of the biggest marketing hooks for these products is that they are actually home compostable," says Jennifer Kingson of Axios.

Vershinin/Getty Images

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Music from the episode

Just the Two of Us Grover Washington Jr. Feat. Bill Withers

Love Of My Life Erykah Badu, Common

Can I Kick It A Tribe Called Quest

Passionfruit Drake

Rock Your Body Justin Timberlake

The team

Nancy Farghalli Executive Producer

Maria Hollenhorst Producer II

Andie Corban Producer I

Sean McHenry Director & Associate Producer II

Richard Cunningham Associate Producer I

Dylan Miettinen Associate Digital Producer

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