Reuters
‘Robust’ corporate cash may buoy stocks after rocky quarter
As the U.S. stock market ends a rocky first quarter, investors are looking at what could support equities in the coming months – with high cash levels at companies one potential boost as executives deploy resources for share buybacks, dividends or deals. The S&P 500 posted its first quarterly loss since the beginning of the pandemic, although it rebounded in March, reducing the benchmark index’s year-to-date decline to about 5% from as much as 12.5% at the quarter’s low point. The ability of companies to deploy cash could help soothe investors about some of that unease.
