Hektor

Here is the Form-4 https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1067983/000172845124000004/xslF345X05/primary_doc.xml Planning to retire??

Reality check on de-risking China relationship! https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/09/02/india-china-manufacturing-supply-chains/ India’s growing reliance on China poses challenge for U.S. trade strategy The United States is looking to Indian manufacturing as a way to reduce commercial ties with Chinese factories and avoid supply disruptions. American businesses looking to reduce their reliance on China have increasingly been eyeing India in the past few years as a new manufacturing hub — and as a hedge against potential disruptions in Chinese supply chains caused by rising geopolitical tensions or another pandemic. But as India has amped up its production of goods like smartphones, solar panels and medicine, the Indian economy itself has become even more dependent on Chinese imports, in particular for the components that go into these products, according to trade figures and economic analysts. This dynamic serves as a reality check for U.S. policymakers, who have been urgently promoting efforts to diversify supply chains away from Chinese factories and “de-risk” the commercial relationship with China.

Thanks @gfp @John Hjorth

Could WEB be selling some of his holdings to lighten up the insurance subs that has those holdings and mitigate the risk of large penalties awarded by juries against insurance cos?

My understanding is that the Gates foundation is required to sell the shares from WEB within a year of receipt, and this requirement has not changed .

Think PARA

Thanks @John Hjorth

Fortunately, people can complain all they want, but WEB decides what to do

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/china-considers-allowing-refinancing-5-035032297.html China Considers Allowing Refinancing on $5.4 Trillion in Mortgages Under the plan, homeowners would be able to renegotiate terms with their current lenders before January, when banks typically reprice mortgages, people familiar with the matter said, asking not to be identified discussing private information. They would also be allowed to refinance with a different bank for the first time since the global financial crisis, the people said. If approved, it may serve to ease mortgage burdens faster than expected. While China has pushed average mortgage costs to a record low this year, most households haven’t benefited since banks won’t reprice existing loans until next year. China’s outstanding amount of individual mortgages stood at 38.2 trillion yuan ($5.4 trillion) at the end of March, and count as prime assets at Chinese lenders. More than 90% of China’s outstanding mortgages were for first homes as of late 2021, according to the latest public data available from the banking regulator.

Any change one could imagine - (regular/special) dividend, aggressive stock repurchase, spin offs, sell KO.....

To take a 5% position and agitate for change, I guess.

I guess the $1T creates one more hurdle for any wanna be activist investor. Acquiring 5% needs $50B now.

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/warren-buffetts-berkshire-hathaway-tops-135118684.html Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway tops $1 trillion market value The market value of Berkshire Hathaway surpassed $1 trillion on Wednesday, reflecting investor confidence in the conglomerate that Warren Buffett built over nearly six decades into what many consider a proxy for the American economy. Berkshire joined six other companies, mainly from the technology sector, above $1 trillion: Apple, Nvidia, Microsoft, Google parent Alphabet, Amazon.com and Facebook parent Meta Platforms.

It will be amazing if they can do to cloud what they did to retail :)

Thanks @Spekulatius

Seems like they have some protection from disruption and some opportunities to expand. Thanks @Blugolds

Good observations @Blugolds. What is stopping a ALDI or a LIDL from entering these markets?

Given the magnitude of such an event, will governments (in US, Canada and/or elsewhere) step in to bail out the industry, depriving prudent businesses of opportunities?

Good one @dealraker. Thank you.

The new blue pill

Yeah, this new report doesn’t seem to be strong.

Let's see if there is a response

Wonder how these are funded during difficult economic times. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/08/10/world/asia/china-border-villages.html China’s Great Wall of Villages China has moved thousands of people to new settlements on its frontiers. It calls them “border guardians.” Amazing villages near the frontiers. It will be interesting to see how these compare to other villages in interior China.

FIH.U