Chinese equities have been a major focus for investors in recent months, with catalysts ranging from DeepSeek’s artificial intelligence (AI) advancements to tariffs and trade negotiations.

Inflation’s effects on the economy, monetary policy, and the financial markets are wide-ranging. Higher inflation can constrain economic growth, tighten financial conditions, drive interest rates higher and even restrain stock valuations — higher inflation dampens the present value of future earnings and, historically, correlates with lower stock valuations.

Corporate buybacks, arguably one of the less-discussed catalysts, likely provided an additional boost to the market’s quick recovery. In this week’s Weekly Market Commentary, we explore recent repurchase activity, including who is buying back stock, how much, and how buyback companies have historically performed.

On Wednesday, May 28, the U.S. Court of International Trade (CIT) essentially blocked the majority of President Trump’s tariffs. A three-judge panel issued summary judgment against the tariffs enacted under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), claiming they were unconstitutional and “exceed any authority granted by the President by IEEPA.”

First quarter reporting season was solid, but results didn’t offer much of a confidence boost in the outlook for the rest of the year.