Stocks stumble | ‘Don’t say we didn’t warn you’ | Apparel retailers get whacked

Companies have been the biggest buyers of stocks during the bull market, but that's slowing down and could be a troubling indicator.

VIEW IN BROWSER | SUBSCRIBE WED, MAY 29, 2019 EVENING BRIEF AS OF WED, MAY 29, 2019 • 04:00 ET DJIA 25122.13 -0.89% -225.64 S&P 500 2782.65 -0.70% -19.74 NASDAQ 7547.31 -0.79% -60.04   Most Active DOW NAME LAST CHG %CHG AAPL 177.38 -0.85 -0.48% INTC 44.23 +0.66 +1.51% MSFT 124.94 -1.22 -0.97% S&P 500 NAME LAST CHG %CHG AMD 28.09 -0.94 -3.24% BAC 27.75 -0.15 -0.54% GE 9.36 UNCH UNCH NASDAQ NAME LAST CHG %CHG AMD 28.09 -0.94 -3.24% SIRI 5.34 -0.01 -0.19% MU 33.29 +0.35 +1.06%   EDITOR'S NOTE Companies have been the biggest buyers of stock during the bull market. But that seems to be slowing down, which analysts say could be a troubling indicator. New corporate offerings have jumped to the highest level in years, Ned Davis, senior investment strategist at Ned Davis Research, points out. This includes big initial public offerings like Uber and Lyft, as well as secondary offerings from companies such as Tesla. Based on that, "maybe even the corporate crowd is starting to feel stocks are overdone," Davis said. Investors think of it as a basic supply and demand equation. Demand for stock in the form of buybacks is declining, while the supply of shares through IPOs and other issuance is increasing. When supply outstrips demand for a product, typically the price falls and stocks are no different. Larry McDonald, editor of The Bear Traps Report, said the ongoing trade war and uncertainty it brings "has paralyzed CFOs and their ability to invest for the future," already dampening capital expenditures. The latest quarterly capex data for the S&P 500 came in at the lowest level since the fourth quarter of 2017, which McDonald said is a "foreshadowing" of a weaker appetite to buy stocks, too. Kate Rooney | CNBC Markets Reporter @Kr00ney TOP NEWS  Dow drops as rates slide on worries over the economy 'Don't say we didn't warn you': A phrase from China signals the trade war could get even worse Bond flash economic warning as 3-month yield tops 10-year rate by most since financial crisis The market now thinks the Fed will cut rates twice by late January Scary pattern forming in stock chart may be sign of another move lower Special counsel Robert Mueller: 'If we had had confidence that' President Trump 'clearly did not commit a crime, we would have said so' Family-run Latin food giant Goya weighs possible $3 billion sale Trump tax cuts did little to boost economic growth in 2018, study says Bain Capital is raising a $1 billion tech fund for buyouts and late-stage investments Apparel retailers Canada Goose, Abercrombie & Fitch and others are getting whacked     TOP VIDEO McDonald's CEO Steve Easterbrook on meatless burgers   SPECIAL REPORTS These trade war-proof stocks could be your best hedge against a tech sell-off Stocks drop on bond market warning – five experts on what to watch now   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