"................. does anyone know if companies are allowed to...

"................. does anyone know if companies are allowed to buy shares in themselves?..............."
Howdy Deebo, think ID2T pretty much covered it however suggest if you think this through a little further not sure it would be a great idea. Imagine the Directors of a company using the already understood low available funds to buy back shares in order to generate more interest (basically pump) and higher levels of SP in order to run a higher priced CR (if I get your concept right). Think that would bring a whole new level to the meaning of insider tradiing. Mind you on some Exchanges the rules do allow for official market makers. The AIM Board in UK for instance required (not sure if still the case) for new entrants to include a market maker who guaranteed to have shares to sell and cash to buy to ensure a reasonable (at least minimum) level of liquidity. Idea being that punters at least less likely to get trapped. The practical down side tends to be that this naturally narrows the trading range - some say it is a good thing others such as traders not so much. Personally, for start-ups I would like to see many more initially list on the NSX where there tends to naturally be less liquidity that can help protect early stage companies better able to build the business rather than pander to the market but that is a whole subject in itself. As your reflection suggests small / early stage businesses listing on the ASX is at least as much about the ability and energy required to raise capital as it is about developing the product or service under development. It takes money to raise money. Suggest rather than buying back shares to raise the price the real tool is to generate and disseminate great messaging that is readily and easily understood by the market. Believe we are already invested in a business that has finally begun to figure this out !