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Buffett's company bought another 20.8 million Apple shares worth $3.2 billion, raising its stake to 5.8%, according to the filing. Shares in Apple have surged nearly 18% this year. Berkshire shrunk its stake in BNY Mellon by roughly 60%, to 25.1 million shares. At current prices, the divestment is worth nearly $2 billion. The number of shares Berkshire holds fell 12.3%, to 52.7 million.

☆ Tesla, insurers take different paths to deal with expensive repairs
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-26 | by ( Paul Lienert | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Jan 26 (Reuters) - Tesla Inc's (TSLA.O) electric vehicles are expensive to repair - so much so that the automaker and insurers are addressing the issue in sharply different ways. Chief Executive Elon Musk says Tesla is making design and software changes to its vehicles to lower repair costs and insurance premiums. Insurance carriers, meanwhile, are writing off low-mileage Tesla Model Ys that have been in crashes, and sending them to salvage auctions after deeming many too expensive to repair. "It's remarkable how small changes in the design of the bumper (and) providing spare parts needed for collision repair have an enormous effect on the repair cost," he said. Insurance companies contacted by Reuters either declined to comment or did not respond immediately to requests.

☆ Investors Await Tech Earnings in Next Test for Markets
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-24 | by ( Charley Grant | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Tech companies such as Microsoft are sharply cutting staff after head counts swelled in the pandemic boom. Technology stocks are off to a strong start after enduring a miserable 2022. The first big test of the new year’s rally is on tap. Even after their sharp selloff, the five largest U.S. companies— Apple Inc., Microsoft Corp., Alphabet Inc., Amazon.com Inc. and Berkshire Hathaway Inc.—account for 18.9% of the S&P 500. That is well above the historical average of about 15%, according to S&P Dow Jones Indices.

Still, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd (TSMC) , the world's most valuable chipmaker, forecast growth would return in the second half of this year. "We forecast the semiconductor cycle to bottom sometime in first half and see a recovery in second half 2023," CEO C.C. The world's largest contract chipmaker said its capital expenditure in 2023 would decrease to $32-36 billion from $36.3 billion in 2022. First-quarter revenue is expected in a range of $16.7 billion to $17.5 billion, compared with $17.57 billion a year earlier. For October-December, TSMC booked record net profit of T$295.9 billion ($9.72 billion) from T$166.2 billion a year earlier.

The chipmaker now expects to spend $32 billion to $36 billion, versus $36.3 billion in 2022, and sees first-quarter revenue in a range of $16.7 billion to $17.5 billion, compared with $17.57 billion a year earlier. "We expect the whole industry to drop slightly but TSMC to grow slightly" in 2023, he said. It reiterated on Thursday slower demand was a cyclical issue and 2023 overall would be a slight growth year for the company. For October-December, TSMC booked record net profit of T$295.9 billion ($9.72 billion) from T$166.2 billion a year earlier. Revenue climbed 26.7% to $19.93 billion, versus TSMC's prior estimated range of $19.9 billion to $20.7 billion.

☆ Bill Gates-backed reactor delayed on worries about fuel from Russia
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-14 | by ( Timothy Gardner | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The fuel, called high assay low enriched uranium, or HALEU, is enriched up to 20%, much above the up to 5% level today's reactors use. "TerraPower is anticipating a minimum of a two-year delay to being able to bring the Natrium reactor into operation," he said. The Department of Energy (DOE) is looking to downblend some of its stockpile of weapons-grade uranium to help provide fuel for the reactor projects. Levesque said TerraPower will provide a schedule update next year when it knows more about HALEU supply including the availability of DOE material for downblending. Only one company outside Russia, U.S.-based Centrus Energy Corp (LEU.A) is licensed to produce the fuel but it is years away from making commercial amounts.

☆ SoftBank, Tencent Lead Way as Asia’s Tech Investors Become Stock Sellers
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-11 | by ( Dave Sebastian | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

SoftBank and other large investors in Asian tech companies are pulling out of the sector. Some of the world’s most influential institutions are selling shares of Asia’s technology giants after owning them for years, a troubling sign for investors after what has already been a painful market selloff. In recent months, Japan’s SoftBank Group Corp. has pared its stakes in the Chinese e-commerce company Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. and the Indian mobile-payments company Paytm, in both cases following declines in their share prices. Berkshire Hathaway Inc., Warren Buffett’s company, has been gradually reducing its stake in BYD Co., a Chinese electric-vehicle maker that it has owned shares in since 2008.

☆ U.S. lawmakers urge Biden to guarantee rail workers' sick leave
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-09 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

WASHINGTON, Dec 9 (Reuters) - More than 70 lawmakers including Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Friday urged President Joe Biden to take executive action to guarantee rail workers paid sick days. On Dec. 2, Biden signed legislation to block a national U.S. railroad strike that could have devastated the American economy after some unions voted against the deal over a lack of paid sick leave. The White House did not immediately comment on the lawmakers' letter, signed by 72 Democratic lawmakers and Sanders, an independent who caucuses with Democrats. Railroad workers have no paid short-term sick days after unions representing 115,000 workers asked for 15 days and railroads settled on one personal day. "Guaranteeing that workers are not operating trains or inspecting rail signals while sick or tired would fundamentally improve the safety of our national rail operations," the letter said.

☆ Cramer's lightning round: I can't recommend Penn Entertainment right now
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-05 | by ( Krystal Hur | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

They're good guys, but I cant recommend the stock right now." Loading chart...Digital World Acquisition Corp : "It's one of the SPACs that's not making money. The SPACs that aren't making money are stocks I don't like." Loading chart...ZIM Integrated Shipping Services Ltd : "I've been against the shipping services since they first started ships. Loading chart...CME Group Inc : "Winner, winner, chicken dinner.

Paid sick leave was one of the outstanding issues in the negotiations. Rail workers get zero paid sick days. Paid sick leave is a basic human right. The measure to provide seven paid sick days did not win the required 60-vote supermajority in the Senate and was not endorsed by the White House. Senator Bernie Sanders and others denounced railroad companies for refusing to offer paid sick leave.

[1/3] U.S. President Joe Biden addresses a joint news conference with French President Emmanuel Macron in the East Room of the White House in Washington, U.S., December 1, 2022. REUTERS/Jonathan ErnstWASHINGTON, Dec 2 (Reuters) - President Joe Biden signed legislation Friday to block a national U.S. railroad strike that could have devastated the American economy. But the Senate failed to approve a measure that would have provided paid sick days to railroad workers. Rail workers get zero paid sick days. Paid sick leave is a basic human right.

☆ Biden administration makes case for quick Senate vote to avoid rail shutdown
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-01 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The House also separately voted to require seven days of paid sick leave for rail workers, a measure the White House has not endorsed. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has not yet scheduled a vote on the rail measure and some senators, including Bernie Sanders, have demanded a separate vote on the sick leave issue as a condition of agreeing to fast-track consideration of the rail contract vote. Schumer said he wants to see paid sick leave included in the legislation. Railroads and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce oppose amending the contract deal that was struck in September largely on the recommendations of an emergency board appointed by Biden. But some labor leaders have criticized Biden for asking Congress to impose a contract that workers in four unions have rejected over its lack of paid sick leave.

☆ U.S. House votes to block rail strike, mandate paid sick leave
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

WASHINGTON, Nov 30 (Reuters) - The U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday voted to approve a bill to block a potentially crippling railroad strike and to mandate paid sick time for rail workers. The House separately voted 221-207 to give seven days of paid sick leave to railroad employees, but that faces an uncertain fate in the Senate. Democrats and some Republicans have expressed outrage over the lack of paid short-term sick leave for railroad workers. "We know much more needs to be done for railroad workers," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said ahead of the votes. Asked if Biden supported the separate House measure to require sick leave, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said that the president broadly supports paid sick leave for all Americans "but he does not support any bill or amendment that would delay getting this bill to his desk."

☆ U.S. House set to approve bill to block rail strike
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

WASHINGTON, Nov 30 (Reuters) - The U.S. House of Representatives is set to vote on Wednesday to approve a bill to block a potentially crippling rail strike, but the fate of a separate proposal by lawmakers to mandate paid sick time remains uncertain. The influential business lobby group said the sick leave vote "would impose an unworkable, one-sided modification to a labor agreement." There are no paid short-term sick days under the tentative deal after unions asked for 15 and railroads settled on one personal day. But some labor leaders have criticized Biden for asking Congress to impose a contract that workers in four unions have rejected over its lack of paid sick leave. Both Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Labor Secretary Marty Walsh are set to speak to Senate Democrats on Thursday about the rail labor issue.

Pelosi said the House would vote separately on Wednesday on a proposal to give seven days of paid sick leave to railroad employees. There are no paid sick days under the tentative deal after unions asked for 15 and railroads settled on one personal day. "Guaranteeing 7 paid sick days to rail workers would cost the rail industry a grand total of $321 million a year – less than 2% of its profits," Sanders said. The railroads oppose giving their workers paid sick time because they would have to hire more staff. "I can’t in good conscience vote for a bill that doesn’t give rail workers the paid leave they deserve," Representative Jamaal Bowman, a Democrat, said on Twitter.

☆ U.S. House votes to approve bill to block rail strike
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

WASHINGTON, Nov 30 (Reuters) - The U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday voted to approve a bill to block a potentially crippling rail strike, but the fate of a separate proposal by lawmakers to mandate paid sick time remains uncertain. A separate vote was ongoing on whether to give seven days of paid sick leave to railroad employees, which lawmakers said is also expected to pass the House but faces an uncertain fate in the Senate. "We know much more needs to be done for railroad workers," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said. The influential business lobby group said the sick leave vote "would impose an unworkable, one-sided modification to a labor agreement." Both Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Labor Secretary Marty Walsh are set to speak to Senate Democrats on Thursday about the rail labor issue.

WASHINGTON/LOS ANGELES, Nov 29 (Reuters) - The U.S. House of Representatives plans to vote Wednesday to block a potential a U.S. rail strike after President Joe Biden warned of the dire economic consequences of a rail disruption that could happen as early as Dec. 9. U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said lawmakers will vote Wednesday to impose a tentative contract deal struck in September. At a White House meeting Tuesday with congressional leaders, the Democratic president was asked if he was confident he could avert a rail strike, and responded, "I am confident." Labor unions have criticized the railroads’ sick leave and attendance policies and the lack of paid sick days for short-term illness. There are no paid sick days under the tentative deal.

☆ Biden asks Congress to avert rail strike, warning of dire economic impact
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-28 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

WASHINGTON, Nov 28 (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden on Monday called on Congress to intervene to avert a potential rail strike that could occur as early as Dec. 9, warning of the potential dire economic impact. Biden asked lawmakers to adopt the tentative deal announced in September "without any modifications or delay - to avert a potentially crippling national rail shutdown." "The risks to our nation’s economy and communities simply make a national rail strike unacceptable," says the letter to congressional leaders first reported by Reuters. "Therefore, absent a voluntary agreement, we call on you to take immediate steps to prevent a national rail strike and the certain economic destruction that would follow." If they do not, workers could strike or railroads could lock out employees - unless Congress intervenes.

☆ Berkshire Hathaway says Warren Buffett donates shares to family charities
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Nov 23 (Reuters) - Berkshire Hathaway Inc (BRKa.N) said Warren Buffett has donated more of his fortune to four family charities, without disclosing whether the billionaire chairman made a new donation to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Buffett donated 1.5 million shares to the Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation. Another 900,000 shares were split evenly among charities run by his children Howard, Susan and Peter: the Howard G. Buffett Foundation, the Sherwood Foundation and the Novo Foundation. Buffett has since 2006 donated more than half of his Berkshire shares, worth more than $46 billion at the time of the donations. According the Buffett family foundation websites, the Howard G. Buffett Foundation works to alleviate hunger, mitigate conflicts and improve public safety around the world.

"There's a lot of anger about paid sick leave among the membership" who kept goods flowing during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, said Seth Harris, a professor at Northeastern University. Labor unions have criticized the railroads' sick leave and attendance policies and the lack of paid sick days for short-term illness. There are no paid sick days under the tentative deal. Unions asked for 15 paid sick days and the railroads settled on one personal day. Railroads have slashed labor and other costs to bolster profits and are fiercely opposed to adding paid sick time that would require them to hire more staff.

Train and engine service members of the transportation division of the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail, and Transportation Workers (SMART-TD) narrowly voted to reject the deal. Three other unions that rejected the deal have already agreed to extend a strike deadline until early December. Labor unions have criticized the railroads’ sick leave and attendance policies and the lack of paid sick days for short-term illness. Beginning on Dec. 9, SMART-TD would be allowed to go on strike or the rail carriers would be permitted to lock out workers, unless Congress intervenes. The Biden administration helped avert a service cutoff by hosting last-minute contract talks in September at the Labor Department that led to a tentative contract deal.

☆ Buffett's Berkshire boosts stakes in Japan's five biggest trading houses
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

TOKYO, Nov 21 (Reuters) - Berkshire Hathaway Inc (BRKa.N), run by billionaire Warren Buffett, has raised its stakes in each of Japan's five biggest trading houses by at least 1 percentage point to more than 6%, regulatory filings showed on Monday, sending shares higher. The move is line with Berkshire's statement in 2020 that its investments in the Japanese trading houses were for the long term and the stakes could rise to 9.9%. The news boosted shares of the five trading houses, led by Mitsubishi and Marubeni, which were up more than 2% in morning trade, while the benchmark Nikkei (.N225) index was nearly flat. Berkshire's increased investments in the trading houses come as it this month bought more than $4.1 billion of stock in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (2330.TW), a rare significant foray into the technology sector by the conglomerate. Reporting by Makiko Yamazaki; Editing by Jamie FreedOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Canadian mortgage lender Home Capital to go private in C$1.7-billion deal
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-21 | by ( Svea Herbst-Bayliss | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Nov 21 (Reuters) - Canada's Home Capital Group Inc (HCG.TO) said on Monday the mortgage lending company would be taken private by Smith Financial Corp in a C$1.7 billion ($1.27 billion) deal. The Toronto-based lender had rebuffed a takeover offer of more than C$28.60 per share from an unnamed buyer, saying it undervalued the company. The deal with Smith Financial includes a "go-shop" period until Dec. 30, during which Home Capital will be allowed to seek other bids. The lender would be delisted after nearly four decades of being a public company when the deal closes, which is expected in the middle of next year. ($1 = 1.3425 Canadian dollars)Reporting by Niket Nishant in Bengaluru; Editing by Vinay Dwivedi and Arun KoyyurOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) and the transportation division of the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail, and Transportation Workers (SMART-TD) -- representing about half of all unionized rail employees are set to report results. The standoff between U.S. railroad operators and their union workers disrupted flows of hazardous materials such as chemicals used in fertilizer and disrupted U.S. passenger railroad Amtrak service in September. The Biden administration helped avert a service cutoff by hosting last-minute contract talks in September at the Labor Department that led to a tentative contract deal. The unions represent 115,000 workers at railroads, including Union Pacific (UNP.N), Berkshire Hathaway Inc's (BRKa.N) BNSF, CSX (CSX.O), Norfolk Southern (NSC.N) and Kansas City Southern. Labor unions have criticized the railroads’ sick leave and attendance policies and the lack of paid sick days for short-term illness.

☆ Warren Buffett's Berkshire warns about crypto website using its name
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Nov 18 (Reuters) - Berkshire Hathaway Inc (BRKa.N), run by billionaire Warren Buffett, on Friday warned investors it has no affiliation with a purported cryptocurrency brokerage website using the Berkshire Hathaway name. It includes purported customer testimonials and says the broker is regulated in the United States, United Kingdom, Cyprus and South Africa, using incorrect names for two regulators. In a statement, Buffett's company said it learned about the website, berkshirehathawaytx.com, on Friday afternoon. "The entity who has this web address has no affiliation with Berkshire Hathaway Inc or its Chairman and CEO, Warren E. Buffett," Berkshire said. Buffett has run Berkshire Hathaway Inc since 1965.

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