Berkshire Hathaway Boosts Stakes in Japan's Trading Firms

Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway has increased its stakes in five major Japanese trading houses—Mitsubishi Corp., Marubeni Corp., Mitsui & Co., Itochu Corp., and Sumitomo Corp.—by between 1.0% and 1.7% to a range of 8.5% to 9.8%. This move followed a three-week-old statement in Buffett's annual letter hinting at further investments, with the trading firms granting permission for Berkshire to exceed the previous 9.9% cap. The increase has led to a rise in the stocks of these companies, with shares climbing over 4% as reported across multiple sources. Buffett's strategy is viewed as a strong endorsement of Japan's diversified trading houses, which are involved in a variety of sectors including commodities and industrial goods. This comes amidst broader market trends where Buffett has been a net seller of other stocks, reflecting a strategic pivot towards Japanese investments.