The 2008 statement of shareholders' equity of Starbucks, the coffee shop retailer, included the following information concerning common stock (dollars in thousands):
REQUIRED:
a. Compute the average prices at which the shares in 2007 and 2008 were issued and purchased.
b. Were the shares to exercise the stock options issued at a higher or lower price than the shares issued for the sale of common stock? Explain how the two sets of shares could be issued for different purposes. What does the repurchase indicate about the stock price trend?