Dempsey Company retires shares that it buys back. In its first share repurchase transaction, Dempsey purchased stock for more than the price at which the stock was originally issued. What is the effect of the purchase of the stock on each of the following?

Happy foods and general grains both produce similar puffed rice breakfast cereals. for both companies, thecost of producing a box of cereal is 45 cents, and it is not possible for either company to lower their productioncosts any further. how can one company achieve a competitive advantage over the other?