Alex Corporation reports the following components of stockholders$$ equity at December $31$ of the prior year.

Common stock$$$$25$ par value, $70,000$ shares authorized, $49,000$ shares issued and outstanding $ $1,225,000$

Paid$-$in capital in excess of par value, common stock $98,000$

Retained earnings $406,000$

Total stockholders$$ equity $ $1,729,000$

During the current year, the following transactions affected its stockholders$$ equity accounts.

January $2$ Purchased $4,900$ shares of its own stock at $$25$ cash per share.

January $7$ Directors declared a $$1\mathrm{.}50$ per share cash dividend payable on February $28$ to the February $9$ stockholders of record.

February $28$ Paid the dividend declared on January $7.$

July $9$ Sold $1,960$ of its treasury shares at $$30$ cash per share.

August $27$ Sold $2,450$ of its treasury shares at $$21$ cash per share.

September $9$ Directors declared a $$2$ per share cash dividend payable on October $22$ to the September $23$ stockholders of record.

October $22$ Paid the dividend declared on September $9.$

December $31$ Closed the $$71,000$ credit balance $($from net income$)$ in the Income Summary account to Retained Earnings.

Required:

$1.$ Prepare journal entries to record each of these transactions.

$2.$ Prepare a statement of retained earnings for the current year ended December $31.$

$3.$Prepare the stockholders$$ equity section of the balance sheet as of December $31$ of the current year.