Hektor

I suspect most (private?) businesses sold to Warren so that they could cash out (or ward off hostile takeover) and continue running the business they built.

+1

Let's hope this doesn't come to pass. This will make BRK just another conglomerate - centralized management functions, synergy etc. It's the anti-thesis of BRK.

Thanks @schin. I feel more subs will likely come under this underinvestment/undermanagement spotlight, more so when Greg eventually replaces WEB.

Do you feel that things were lax for too long. Further, do you feel that similar problems might exist at other (important) subs?

Will the Chinese bazooka remain silent until Jerome turns dovish again? https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/07/business/china-stocks-csi-300.html China’s Policy Reversal Sparks ‘Mind Boggling’ Stock Rally The government has fired up investors by encouraging banks to lend more to buyers of stocks and real estate, but officials refrained on Tuesday from promising more stimulus. Just a few weeks ago, many investors in China’s stock markets were ready to give up and eager to sell. Then late last month, traders rushed in to make bullish bets after the government’s leaders announced a series of steps to stimulate China’s faltering economy. On Tuesday, following a weeklong national holiday, trading in mainland China resumed and investors picked up where they left off. The CSI 300, an index of large companies traded in Shanghai and Shenzhen, jumped almost 6 percent. It marked the tenth straight day of increases, soaring almost 35 percent during the period. Before the holiday, the Chinese government had jolted stock markets sharply higher with a package of measures aimed at halting the cycle of falling real estate prices and weakening consumer confidence. Several municipal governments soon followed by trimming or dismantling their restrictions on real estate purchases as a way to stabilize the housing market in their cities. No new plans were announced at a news conference on Tuesday. Officials from the National Development and Reform Commission, China’s economic planning agency, instead provided more of a pep talk on the economy.

Could WEB make an offer for Koch Inc? Charles Koch is not getting any younger.

https://www.wsj.com/business/logistics/can-a-precision-scheduling-expert-fix-berkshire-hathaways-railroad-f33811e4 Can a ‘Precision Scheduling’ Expert Fix Berkshire Hathaway’s Railroad? Warren Buffett’s designated successor is taking a hands-on approach with BNSF Railway, one of Berkshire’s biggest companies.

Barron's continues to be down on China https://www.barrons.com/articles/china-hot-jack-ma-alibaba-a1d688b9 China Is Looking Like a Hot Investment Again. Look Before You Leap In. Investors should stay wary of China until its leadership establishes a record as a reliable counterparty—which could take decades. China is a great investment—if you don’t look at the past too closely. Just forget about Jack Ma, the founder of Alibaba Group Holding , and ignore the concerns voiced over the past decade that no one has made money investing in China. Instead, focus on recent dramatic market pops, like Monday’s 8.5% rally, which the pundits celebrated as the biggest daily move since 2008. If you ignore the inconvenient facts, buying stocks and bullish call options and selling put options on China themes is attractive because China’s leaders will likely keep stimulating the economy. If only it were that easy.

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/pilot-debt-rating-moody-brings-165850784.html Pilot’s new debt rating from Moody’s brings it up to investment-grade

https://www.wsj.com/world/china/china-housing-glut-population-economy-09cffa6a China’s Housing Glut Collides With Its Shrinking Population Many cities are stuck with empty homes that they will likely never fill, adding to the country’s economic woes

And the fall out from the China rally https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-09-30/quant-hedge-funds-face-more-margin-calls-as-chinese-stocks-surge Quant Hedge Funds Face More Margin Calls as Chinese Stocks Surge China’s biggest stock market rally in more than a decade has added pressure on funds that short index futures.

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/30/business/china-property-mortgages.html China Removes Curbs on Home Buyers, Sparking Stock Market Surge

I feel it will be interesting to see how the Progressive rates will compare to Geico rates after a couple of renewals.

https://www.wsj.com/world/china/chinas-newest-nuclear-submarine-sank-setting-back-its-military-modernization-785b4d37 China’s Newest Nuclear Submarine Sank, Setting Back Its Military Modernization Pierside accident came as Beijing attempts to expand its navy China’s newest nuclear-powered attack submarine sank in the spring, a major setback for one of the country’s priority weapons programs, U.S. officials said. The episode, which Chinese authorities scrambled to cover up and hasn’t previously been disclosed, occurred at a shipyard near Wuhan in late May or early June.

https://www.fairfax.ca/press-releases/intention-to-make-a-normal-course-issuer-bid-for-subordinate-voting-shares-and-preferred-shares-09-26-2024/?utm_source=press-release&utm_medium=email&utm_term=Thu+Sep+26+2024&utm_campaign=Intention+to+Make+a+Normal+Course+Issuer+Bid+for+Subordinate+Voting+Shares+and+Preferred+Shares

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-09-26/china-weighs-injecting-142-billion-of-capital-into-top-banks China Weighs $142 Billion Capital Injection Into Top Banks Most of funding will come from special sovereign bond sales Move is part of economic stimulus package unveiled this week

https://www.wsj.com/world/china/top-economist-in-china-vanishes-after-private-wechat-comments-50dac0b1 Top Economist in China Vanishes After Private WeChat Comments A government adviser was detained and removed from his posts after he allegedly criticized leader Xi Jinping’s management of the economy.

https://www.wsj.com/world/china/china-central-bank-takes-more-steps-to-boost-flagging-economy-b43e8aef

https://www.barrons.com/articles/china-economy-debt-slowdown-recession-65f51b85 China’s Economy Is Lurching. A Recession Could Be Ahead. China’s economic troubles are deepening, with one economist warning clients the country is headed for a recession—and could need a U.S.-style bank bailout.

https://fortune.com/2024/09/18/ray-dalio-china-property-bubble-bridgewater/

I feel this might be a fall out of the gov cutting Ma to size. People with the means would look to take them elsewhere. Doing so has been the norm for ages.

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/13/world/asia/china-retirement-age.html China Raises Retirement Age for the First Time Since the 1950s The move, made in the hope of addressing an aging population, was decidedly unpopular. This is the first time China has raised its retirement age since the 1950s. It will be phased in gradually, starting on Jan. 1, 2025. The retirement age for men, previously 60, will increase in increments of several months before finally reaching 63 by 2040. The retirement age for women in white-collar jobs, previously 55, will rise to 58. Women in blue-collar jobs, who previously could retire at 50, will have to work until 55.