Market within 1% of high | SoftBank set to control WeWork | Pompeo on Turkey

Stocks eke closer to record highs as investors await more earnings reports.

VIEW IN BROWSER | SUBSCRIBE MON, OCT 21, 2019 EVENING BRIEF AS OF MON, OCT 21, 2019 • 04:23 ET DJIA 26827.64 +0.21% +57.44 S&P 500 3006.72 +0.69% +20.52 NASDAQ 8162.99 +0.91% +73.44   Most Active DOW NAME LAST CHG %CHG AAPL 240.51 +4.10 +1.73% MSFT 138.43 +1.02 +0.74% BA 331.06 -12.94 -3.76% S&P 500 NAME LAST CHG %CHG BAC 31.02 +0.67 +2.21% GE 8.79 -0.17 -1.90% AMD 32.03 +1.06 +3.42% NASDAQ NAME LAST CHG %CHG AMD 32.03 +1.06 +3.42% AAPL 240.51 +4.10 +1.73% MSFT 138.43 +1.02 +0.74% EDITOR'S NOTE The buyback bonanza is slowing down.   Goldman Sachs reports corporate stock repurchase plan spending was down 18% in the second quarter compared with the first quarter. The firm predicts the trend will continue, writes CNBC's Pippa Stevens, with another 5% decline next year.   Buybacks have offered a big boost to the bull market for years, but like many other financial phenomena these days, they're falling as doubts are rising.   "Companies spend less cash when policy uncertainty is high," Goldman's David Kostin said. "The combination of an ongoing trade conflict and next year's US presidential election will likely result in lingering uncertainty."     Despite the slowdown, companies are still pouring hundreds of billions into stock repurchase plans. And, despite mounting uncertainty, stocks are less than 1% below all-time highs.   It may not take much to push indexes to new highs, with equities inching toward that milestone on Monday.   Navigating the world of financial products such as credit cards can be confusing. That's why we launched CNBC Select where we simplify the process by crunching the numbers, reviewing dozens of offers and providing you with all the information you need in one place. Click here to learn more. Al Lewis | CNBC Markets Editor @tellittoal TOP NEWS  Stocks rise as trade and earnings optimism lifts Wall Street sentiment SoftBank to take control of WeWork: Sources Boeing's 737 Max troubles deepen, taking airlines, suppliers with it Goldman warns that buybacks are 'plummeting,' ending a big source of buying power for the market China's attacks on US businesses are 'completely inappropriate,' Mike Pompeo says Four drug companies reach a last-minute $260 million opioid settlement with two Ohio counties Wealthy investors double up on fear that another market drop is coming Federal corruption probe, strike loom over UAW's voting on proposed labor contract with GM Falling profit margins raise some alarm: 'It can be a precursor to layoffs and a recession' When a billionaire resident dies, states reap an average $165 million windfall from estate taxes     TOP VIDEO Pompeo: Trump 'fully prepared' to take military action against NATO ally Turkey   CNBC PRO Raymond James raises Apple outlook, sees shares rallying nearly 20%   SPECIAL REPORTS It's time to take profits in this tobacco stock if it reaches this level, trader says Here's how to play one of the top-performing banking stocks   Unsubscribe Manage Newsletters Terms of Service Join the CNBC Panel Digital Products Feedback Privacy Policy   © 2019 CNBC LLC. All rights reserved. A property of NBCUniversal. 900 Sylvan Avenue, Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632 Data is a real-time snapshot *Data is delayed at least 15 minutes. Global Business and Financial News, Stock Quotes and Market Data and Analysis. Data also provided by THOMSON REUTERS