Warren Buffett News

Fitch May Cut Berkshire Rating on Burlington Buy

Fitch Ratings said Thursday it may cut its ratings on Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Inc on concerns about the effect its planned acquisition of Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp. will have on its asset profile and capitalization. Fitch said it …

Swiss Re Q3 Profit Tops Forecasts; Capital Strengthened

Swiss Re strengthened its capital in the third quarter, it reported on Tuesday, boosting its chances of repaying a costly convertible loan from Warren Buffett as it beat operating profit forecasts in its core businesses. Fat operating margins and gains …

It Figures

2,803 The number of Georgia homes affected by recent flooding, according to the American Red Cross. The organization said an estimated 2,803 Georgia homes have been affected by the flooding. Of those homes, 745 are destroyed and 760 have major …

It Figures

10 The number of states now reporting an international mail fraud scheme involving a bogus letter said to be from Nationwide Insurance. Residents in 10 states have received counterfeit checks bearing the Nationwide name. Each check has been issued in …

It Figures

10 The number of states now reporting an international mail fraud scheme involving a bogus letter said to be from Nationwide Insurance. Residents in 10 states have received counterfeit checks bearing the Nationwide name. Each check has been issued in …

Successful IPO by Insurance Firm Verisk Analytics Stirs Hopes for More

Verisk Analytics Inc., an insurance services firm that owns ISO and is partly owned by Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway, soared in its first day of trading Wednesday, and stirred hopes that the appetite for such offerings is warming. Shares of …

ISO Parent Verisk Analytics Raises $1.88 Billion in IPO

Insurance risk specialist Verisk Analytics Inc. raised $1.88 billion Tuesday in the biggest IPO by a U.S. company since March 2008 after pricing its shares at a higher-than-expected $22 each. The sale of the shares, which had been expected to …

Former General Re Executive Napier Gets Probation in AIG Fraud

A former executive of reinsurer General Re Corp. was sentenced to two years probation and fined $10,000 after pleading guilty to helping American International Group cook its books. U.S. District Judge Christopher Droney said his sentence of Richard Napier, who …

Major Storm Activity Could Bring Silver Lining of Price Hikes for Insurers

The first hurricane of the 2009 Atlantic season may end up skipping past the United States, leaving insurers to hope that the next ominous storm clouds will come ashore with a silver lining. Insurers can face billions of dollars in …

Berkshire Hathway Q2 Profit Up, Insurance Underwriting Down

Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Inc. posted its best quarter in nearly two years, as recovering stock markets boosted the value of its equity investments and derivatives bets. Operating earnings for the second quarter nevertheless fell short of forecasts, reflecting lower …