Saturday, February 28, 2009

Linkfest: Early Reaction to Warren Buffet's Chairman's Letter to the Shareholders of Berkshire Hathaway 2009, Part I

UPDATE: part III, blog reactions, is here.
Original post:
I'll be commenting on the letter on Monday (I know, "Alert the media"*), in the meantime, here's a roundup of initial stories from the major news outlets. See also our post from yesterday "Warren Buffett's Letter to the Shareholders of Berkshire Hathaway 2009 (BRK.A)", there's a treat for those who follow the links.
We'll be back later with blog reaction.

From the Wall Street Journal, an in-depth look:
Berkshire Hathaway Reports Worst Year Ever
Insurance, Stock Holdings Are Hit; Buffett Warns of Bubble in Treasurys

From the Journal's Real Time Economics blog:
Warren Buffett on the Economy


From Bloomberg:
Berkshire Results May Be Worst Ever, by Buffett Gauge


From Mr. Buffett's own Washington Post, Economy Watch blog:
Buffett: 'I Did Some Dumb Things' in 2008
(speaking of dumb, the WaPo gated a half dozen Warren stories)

From the New York Times:
In Letter, Buffett Is Frank but Optimistic


From their The Lede blog:
As Warren Buffett Goes, So Goes …

and from their DealBook blog:
Ask Warren Buffett a Question

From the Omaha World-Herald, first a home grown story, then their AP coverage (which are the same headlines as the NYT's):
Good calls, bad calls: Buffett's past predictions

Buffett says derivative values can be misleading
Buffett says economy to remain in shambles in 2009

From Reuters:
NEW YORK - Berkshire Hathaway Inc, Warren Buffett's insurance and investment company, barely broke even in the fourth quarter because of losses on derivatives ...
Feb 28, 2009
NEW YORK - Saying "derivatives are dangerous," Warren Buffett defended his use of them after they played the main role in driving Berkshire Hathaway Inc annual ...
Feb 28, 2009
- Berkshire Hathaway Inc, Warren Buffett's insurance and investment company, barely broke even in the fourth quarter because of losses on derivatives contracts ...

*That's a quote from the 1981's double Oscar winner "Arthur"
The set-up, Arthur (Dudley Moore, nominated Best Actor) and his butler Hobson (Sir John Gielgud, winner Best Supporting Actor):
Arthur: Do you know what I'm going to do? I'm going to take a bath.
Hobson: I'll alert the media.
Arthur: Do you want to run my bath for me?
Hobson: It's what I live for.
[Arthur exits]
Hobson: Perhaps you would like me to wash your dick for you, too, you little shit.