Investing activities during the six months ended July 2, 2017 provided cash of $240.1 million, due to $313.3 million and $307.6 million in proceeds from maturities and sales of marketable securities, respectively, partially offset by $334.8 used for purchases of marketable securities and $46.0 million used for purchases of property, plant and equipment.
Financing activities during the six months ended July 2, 2017 used cash of $120.5 million, due to $94.3 million used for the repurchase of 3.0 million shares of common stock at an average price of $31.77 per share, $27.9 million used for dividend payments, $12.4 million used for payment related to net settlement of employee stock compensation awards and $1.1 million used for a payment related to AIT acquisition contingent consideration, partially offset by $15.2 million from the issuance of common stock under employee stock purchase and stock option plans.
In January 2018 and May 2018, our Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.09 per share. Dividend payments for the six months ended July 1, 2018 were $34.7 million.
In January 2017 and May 2017, our Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.07 per share. Dividend payments for the six months ended July 2, 2017 were $27.9 million.
In January 2018, our Board of Directors cancelled the December 2016 stock repurchase program and authorized a new stock repurchase program for up to $1.5 billion of common stock. We intend to repurchase $750 million in 2018. During the six months ended July 1, 2018, we repurchased 8.8 million shares of common stock for $360.8 million at an average price of $40.82 per share.
In December 2016, our Board of Directors approved a $500 million share repurchase authorization, which commenced on January 1, 2017. During the six months ended July 2, 2017, we repurchased 3.0 million shares of common stock for $94.3 million at an average price of $31.77 per share.
While we declared a quarterly cash dividend and authorized a share repurchase program, we may reduce or eliminate the cash dividend or share repurchase program in the future. Future cash dividends and stock repurchases are subject to the discretion of our Board of Directors, which will consider, among other things, our earnings, capital requirements and financial condition.
We believe our cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities balance will be sufficient to pay our quarterly dividend, execute our authorized share repurchase program and meet our working capital and expenditure needs for at least the next twelve months. Inflation has not had a significant long-term impact on earnings.
Equity Compensation Plans
As discussed in Note O: “Stock Based Compensation” in our 2017 Annual Report on Form10-K, we have a 1996 Employee Stock Purchase Plan and a 2006 Equity and Cash Compensation Incentive Plan (the “2006 Equity Plan”).
The purpose of the 1996 Employee Stock Purchase Plan is to encourage stock ownership by all eligible employees of Teradyne. The purpose of the 2006 Equity Plan is to provide equity ownership and compensation opportunities in Teradyne to our employees, officers, directors, consultants and/or advisors. Both plans were approved by our shareholders.
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
On January 26, 2017, the FASB issued ASU2017-04,“Intangibles – Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Accounting for Goodwill Impairment.” The new guidance removes Step 2 of the goodwill impairment test, which requires a hypothetical purchase price allocation. Goodwill impairment will now be the amount by which a reporting unit’s carrying value exceeds its fair value, not to exceed the carrying amount of
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