Stock repurchase programs are often seen as a sign of confidence by a company's management in the company's financial health and future prospects. They can lead to a reduction in the number of shares outstanding, potentially increasing earnings per share and the stock price in the short term. Given that HBT Financial, Inc. has authorized a new repurchase program, this could be interpreted by the market as a positive signal, thus likely leading to a short-term positive impact on the stock price.