Answer:
Outstanding shares= 30,000
Step-by-step explanation:
Market capitalisation is a measure of the outstanding shares that a company has outstanding (issued). A buyback from the company results in reduction in market capitalisation. However buybacks also tend to increase the price of shares.
So as at December 31 outstanding shares= Total issued shares - Buyback
Outstanding shares= (15,000+ 18,000) - 3,000
Outstanding shares= 30,000