>The answer to your question is quite simple: companies buy back their own stock because it is an easy way to increase shareholder value. By buying back stock, companies are essentially telling investors that they believe their shares are undervalued and that they are committed to increasing the value of the company. This often has a positive effect on share prices, as investors see that the company is confident in its future prospects.

However, you're right in saying that there could be some ulterior motives at play here. It's possible that companies are using buybacks as a way to artificially prop up their share prices during times of market turmoil. This can give the impression that all is well when really there could be underlying problems with the business. So while buybacks can be a good thing for shareholders, it's important to keep an eye on why companies are doing them and whether or not they're sustainable in the long-term