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Mitsui & Co

Mitsui & Co Ltd is a general trading company with a wide range of business activities in the areas of iron and steel, mineral and metal resources, machinery and infrastructure, chemicals, energy, lifestyle, innovation, and corporate development. The firm also participates in the development of natural resources, and it has minority interests in several upstream resource projects, which include iron ore and coal projects in Australia; copper mining projects in Chile; and oil and gas projects in Asia, the Middle East, and the United States.

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Berkshire Hathaway amplía su apuesta por las firmas comerciales japonesas, impulsando sus acciones en la Bolsa de Tokio.

Las acciones de las principales firmas comerciales japonesas suben tras la apuesta de Warren Buffett

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WisdomTree Trust Japan Total Dividend Fund

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SONY

Las acciones de las principales casas comerciales de Japón suben tras la señal positiva de Warren Buffett.

Warren Buffett respalda a Japón: Aumentan acciones de casas comerciales tras su declaración

MITSUI & CO LTD ADR by Mitsui & Co., Ltd.

Mitsui & Co Ltd

What began quietly years ago has grown into a defining long-term play for Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BRK#NYSE">BRK</a>) (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BRK#NYSE">BRK</a>), as the company signals no intention of slowing down or reassessing its $20 billion bet on Japanese trading companies, amid a changing macro climate. 
What Happened: On Saturday, during Berkshire&#8217;s annual shareholder meeting, Warren Buffett addressed a question from the audience regarding the company's investments in Japan and his outlook on the same in light of a potential interest rate hike by the Bank of Japan.
Buffett said he was unfazed by the macro backdrop, stating, &#8220;I'll let the people of Japan determine their best course of action in terms of economics.&#8221; 
He then went on to reaffirm his confidence in the five Japanese trading companies, Mitsubishi (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSBHF#OTC">MSBHF</a>), Marubeni (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MARUY#OTC">MARUY</a>), Mitsui (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MITSY#OTC">MITSY</a>), Sumitomo (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SMFG#NYSE">SMFG</a>) and Itouchi (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ITOCY#OTC">ITOCY</a>), while expressing continued optimism about both their prospects and the broader Japanese economy.
See More: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/05/45185944/warren-buffett-shares-surprising-advice-for-young-investors-and-its-not-about-stocks-who-you-associate-with-is-just-enormously-important">Warren Buffett Shares Surprising Advice for Young Investors—And It&#8217;s Not About Stocks: &#8216;Who You Associate With Is Just Enormously Important&#8217;</a>
Buffett noted that when he first acquired stakes in these trading houses six years ago, they were &#8220;selling at ridiculously low prices.&#8221; His conviction deepened over time, he added, as he got to know the companies and their leadership teams better.
&#8220;Japan's record has been extraordinary,&#8221; he said, pointing to the strong presence of several major American companies in the region, including several Berkshire holdings like Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>), Coca-Cola Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KO#NYSE">KO</a>), and American Express Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AXP#NYSE">AXP</a>).
Buffett added that &#8220;in the next 50 years, we won't give a thought to selling those [Japanese trading houses] positions,&#8221; underscoring not only his own long-term conviction but also that of Berkshire Vice Chairman, and his newly appointed successor, Greg Abel.
Abel followed up by saying, &#8220;It's been a very good investment, but we really envision holding the investment for 50 years or forever,&#8221; adding that he hopes to &#8220;do big things with them globally.&#8221;
Why It Matters: Early last month, Berkshire was preparing another round of yen-denominated bond issuance, reportedly aimed at <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/25/04/44601574/warren-doubles-down-on-japan-another-yen-bond-blitz-amid-growing-us-market-volatility">refinancing maturing debt</a> and increasing its stakes in its Japanese plays.
Former Vice Chairman Charlie Munger had described the investment as a &#8220;no-brainer,&#8221; pointing to Japan's <a href="https://benzinga.com/25/02/43441032/charlie-munger-praised-buffetts-20b-no-brainer-investment-in-japan-like-having-god-just-opening-a-chest-and-pouring-money-into-it">ultra-low borrowing rates</a>, around 0.50%, and the attractive dividend yields of over 5% offered by the trading houses. 
The company reported its first-quarter results on Saturday, with operating earnings falling 14% year-over-year to $9.6 billion. The decline was primarily due to a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/05/45183890/berkshire-hathaways-q1-2025-earnings-plunge-amid-tariff-concerns-operating-profit-fell-14-cash-hit-a-record">$1.1 billion hit</a> to underwriting profits from wildfires in Southern California during the quarter.
Price Action: Berkshire shares were up 1.80% on Friday, and are up 0.35% after hours following the company&#8217;s first quarter results, according to data from <a href="http://pro.benzinga.com">Benzinga Pro. </a>
Read More: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45187070/warren-buffett-retires-after-decades-of-dominancefrom-tim-cook-to-mark-cuban-worlds-top-business-leaders-react-to-the-investment-icons-exit">&#8216;Curtain Call For The Captain:&#8217; Tim Cook, Bill Gates, Mark Cuban And Other Top Business Leaders React As Warren Buffett Bows Out</a></li>
</ul>
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Earnings

Warren Buffett And His Successor Greg Abel Say Berkshire Hathaway Could Hold This $20B Bet For '50 Years Or Forever'

Mitsui &amp; Co (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MITSY#OTC">MITSY</a>) reported quarterly earnings of $11.25 per share. This is a 25.69 percent decrease over earnings of $15.14 per share from the same period last year. The company reported $24.13 billion in sales this quarter. This is a 7.62 percent increase over sales of $22.42 billion the same period last year.

Mitsui & Co Q4 EPS $11.25 Down From $15.14 YoY, Sales $24.13B Up From $22.42B YoY

Shares of Japan&#8217;s five major trading houses soared on Tuesday on the Tokyo exchange after Warren Buffett&#8216;s Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BRK#NYSE">BRK</a>) (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BRK#NYSE">BRK</a>) <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/markets/25/03/44353719/warren-buffets-berkshire-hathaway-boosts-stake-in-japans-top-trading-firms">increased its stakes in the companies</a>.
What Happened: National Indemnity, a wholly owned unit of Berkshire Hathaway, disclosed in filings with Japan&#8217;s securities regulator that it had raised its stake in Mitsubishi from 8.31% to 9.67% and in Mitsui from 8.09% to 9.82%. Berkshire also increased holdings in Itochu, Marubeni, and Sumitomo by approximately one percentage point each.
Japan&#8217;s Trading Firms Surge as Berkshire Hathaway Increases Stakes: 
<figure class="wp-block-table"> 
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Company (Ticker)</th>
<th>% Change</th>
<th>Price (JPY)</th>
<th>Price (USD)</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Mitsui &amp; Co Ltd (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MITSY#OTC">MITSY</a>)</td>
<td>+4.64%</td>
<td>2,934 JPY</td>
<td>$19.61</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Marubeni Corp (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MARUY#OTC">MARUY</a>)</td>
<td>+4.26%</td>
<td>2,543 JPY</td>
<td>$17.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Mitsubishi Corp (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSBHF#OTC">MSBHF</a>)</td>
<td>+4.08%</td>
<td>2,754 JPY</td>
<td>$18.41</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Itochu Corp (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ITOCY#OTC">ITOCY</a>)</td>
<td>+3.87%</td>
<td>7,216 JPY</td>
<td>$48.23</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Sumitomo Corp (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SSUMY#OTC">SSUMY</a>)</td>
<td>+3.68%</td>
<td>3,637 JPY</td>
<td>$24.31</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
The increased investments follow Berkshire&#8217;s recent negotiations to &#8220;moderately relax&#8221; the previously agreed 10% investment cap, though none of the holdings has <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/markets/25/03/44353719/warren-buffets-berkshire-hathaway-boosts-stake-in-japans-top-trading-firms">exceeded this threshold</a>.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/03/44369228/byd-unveils-5-minute-ev-charging-breakthrough-strengthening-edge-over-tesla-stock-spikes-4">BYD Unveils 5-Minute EV Charging Breakthrough, Strengthening Edge Over Tesla— Stock Spikes 4%</a>
Why It Matters: These trading firms are vital to Japan&#8217;s economy, importing essential raw materials including oil, gas, and metals while supporting the country&#8217;s machinery export, automobile, and electronics sectors.
Buffett, often called the &#8220;Oracle of Omaha,&#8221; first disclosed investments in these trading houses in 2020. In his annual shareholder letter last month, he highlighted his increasing appreciation for the companies. By the end of 2024, the market value of Berkshire&#8217;s Japan holdings had risen to $23.5 billion.
While expanding its Japanese investments, Berkshire has accumulated a record cash reserve of $334.2 billion after <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/03/44212672/jamie-dimon-cashed-out-234-million-in-jpmorgan-stock-warren-buffett-stockpiled-334-billion-in-cash-weeks-later-markets-crashed-coincidence">selling off equities more broadly</a>.
Read Next: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/03/44368525/joe-rogan-once-talked-about-the-two-billionaires-he-really-loves-he-called-elon-musk-a-nomad-and-jeff-bezos-a-yacht-king-what-these-two-tech-titans-own-reveals-a-very-inte">Joe Rogan Once Talked About The Two Billionaires He &#8216;Really&#8217; Loves, He Called Elon Musk A Nomad And Jeff Bezos A Yacht King — What These Two Tech Titans Own Reveals A Very Interesting Story</a></li>
</ul>
Image Via Shutterstock
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Warren Buffett-Backed Japanese Trading Stocks Surge As Tokyo Market Digest Berkshire's Increased Stake

Editor&#8217;s Note: This story has been updated to correctly identify Mitsubishi Corporation as one of Japan's five largest trading houses.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/warren-buffett">Warren Buffett </a>gave Japan Inc. another stamp of approval and the market is eating it up. Shares of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/japan">Japan's</a> five largest trading houses surged up to 9% after the Oracle of Omaha signaled Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BRK#NYSE">BRK</a>) (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BRK#NYSE">BRK</a>) is eyeing bigger stakes.
Mitsubishi Corporation (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSBHF#OTC">MSBHF</a>) led the pack, climbing nearly 9%, while Mitsui &amp; Co (OTCPK:MITSY), Marubeni Corp (OTCPK:MARUF) (OTCPK:MARUY), Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SMFG#NYSE">SMFG</a>) and Itochu Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ITOCF#NYSE">ITOCF</a>) all jumped between 4% and 7.5%, <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/431a648e-851e-49f7-a37b-e862f4c19474">reported</a> the Financial Times.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Buffett&#8217;s Billion-Dollar Bet Gets Bigger</h2>
Buffett's love affair with Japan is nothing new. Back in 2020, Berkshire quietly snapped up 5% stakes in each of these trading giants, shelling out $6 billion. Fast forward to today and those holdings are worth $23.5 billion.
Related: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43906366/warren-buffetts-berkshire-boosts-bets-on-five-japanese-companies-admiration-has-consistently-grown-says-oracle-of-omaha-in-letter-to-shareholders">Warren Buffett&#8217;s Berkshire Boosts Bets On 5 Japanese Companies: Oracle Of Omaha Says Admiration &#8216;Has Consistently Grown&#8217;</a>
Now, with the 10% ownership cap lifted, Buffett's annual letter made it clear: "You will likely see Berkshire's ownership of all five increase somewhat." 
Translation? Buffett's doubling down.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Why Trading Houses? Think Private Equity, Buffett Style</h2>
Why does he love these stocks? 
Think of them as Japan's private equity powerhouses with portfolios spanning convenience stores, salmon farms, infrastructure and tech startups.
Jefferies analyst Thanh Ha Pham calls them &#8220;the private equity of Japan&#8221; but with a Buffett-approved long-term horizon.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">ETFs, Stocks Riding The Buffett Wave</h2>
For ETF investors, Buffett's Japan bet shines a light on three key funds. 
The iShares MSCI Japan ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EWJ#NYSE">EWJ</a>) is up 2.64% year-to-date, while JPMorgan's BetaBuilders Japan ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BBJP#NYSE">BBJP</a>) has climbed 2.37%. But the real standout? 
The WisdomTree Japan Hedged Equity Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DXJ#NYSE">DXJ</a>), which boasts a 3.98% gain over the past year.
The Buffett effect is real and it's not just the trading houses riding the wave.
Sony (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SONY#NYSE">SONY</a>) has soared 44% in the past year, while Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SMFG#NYSE">SMFG</a>) is up nearly 40%. Even Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MUFG#NYSE">MUFG</a>) has posted a stellar 24.6% annual gain.
With Japan's corporate reforms, rising dividends and Buffett's backing, this might just be the start of a long-term bull run.
For investors, ignoring Japan now could be like skipping Apple Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) in 2003 &#8211; a mistake Buffett himself vowed never to repeat.
Read Next: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs/specialty-etfs/25/02/43893016/rising-inflation-in-japan-3-etfs-to-watch-as-boj-navigates-rate-hike-expectations">Rising Inflation In Japan: 3 ETFs To Watch As BOJ Navigates Rate Hike Expectations</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: Shutterstock

Buffett's Japan Play: Why Investors Shouldn't Sleep On These Stocks, ETFs (CORRECTED)

Mitsui &amp; Co. (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MITSY#OTC">MITSY</a>) has announced an acquisition of a 40% stake in the Rhodes Ridge iron-ore project in Australia. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/japan?page=6">The Japanese conglomerate</a>, in which Warren Buffett holds an 8% stake, will acquire a 25% stake from VOC Group for $3.34 billion and a 15% stake from AMB Holdings for $2 billion.
Following the transaction, AMB Holdings <a href="https://www.mitsui.com/jp/en/release/2025/1250897_14855.html">will retain a 10% stake</a>, while Rio Tinto remains the project's operator with a 50% interest.
"The project is in Western Australia, where we have been involved in mining development since the 1960s and have the most expertise. It will further strengthen our business foundation," CEO Kenichi Hori said per Reuters.
Located in the mining-oriented Pilbara region, Rhodes Ridge is one of the world's largest undeveloped iron-ore deposits, with an estimated 6.8 billion tons of mineral resources. The full feasibility study will follow after the completion of the pre-feasibility stage later this year.
Rio Tinto <a href="https://www.riotinto.com/en/news/releases/2025/rio-tinto-notes-mitsui-has-agreed-to-join-rhodes-ridge-joint-venture">welcomed Mitsui's involvement,</a> citing their longstanding partnership in the Robe River joint venture located in the same region. The new mine will benefit from its proximity to existing infrastructure, including rail networks and port facilities, which will help lower capital expenditures and operational risks.&nbsp;
The British-Australian mining leader anticipates its first production at Rhodes Ridge in 2030, with an initial output of 40 million tons annually. Thus, Mitsui's 40% stake will entitle it to a share of 16 million tons at the outset, eventually exceeding 40 million tons as production ramps up. The company plans to integrate Rhodes Ridge output into its existing iron ore portfolio, which includes investments in Brazilian miner Vale and other joint ventures with Rio Tinto and BHP.
This investment aligns with Mitsui's Medium-term Management Plan 2026, prioritizing industrial business solutions and the stable supply of essential resources. The company expects the project to contribute significantly to its long-term earnings, with operating cash flow projected to increase by 100 billion yen ($659 million) initially and up to 250 billion yen after expansion.
Pending regulatory approvals, the deal is expected to close by March 2026.
Read Next:<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43809599/minres-craters-as-ebitda-drops-by-a-half-weather-adds-to-woes"> </a>
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43809599/minres-craters-as-ebitda-drops-by-a-half-weather-adds-to-woes">Australian Miner MinRes Stock Craters As EBITDA Drops By Half, Weather Adds To Woes</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: Shutterstock

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Commodities

Global

Mitsui To Acquire A $5.3 Billion Stake In Major Australian Iron Ore Project

Mitsui &amp; Co (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MITSY#OTC">MITSY</a>) is looking for FY2025 GAAP EPS of $2.11..

Guidance

Mitsui & Co Sees FY2025 GAAP EPS JPY 313.44.

Mitsui &amp; Co (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MITSY#OTC">MITSY</a>) reported quarterly earnings of $6.20 per share. This is a 33.62 percent decrease over earnings of $9.34 per share from the same period last year. The company reported $23.46 billion in sales this quarter. This is a 4.99 percent increase over sales of $22.34 billion the same period last year.

Mitsui & Co Q2 EPS $6.20 Down From $9.34 YoY, Sales $23.46B Up From $22.34B YoY

The Company will use the proceeds from the transaction toward debt repayment.&nbsp;The transaction is expected to close by the end of October 2024
AUSJ, a uniform rental services provider in Japan, was established in 1988 as a joint venture between a group of companies including Vestis&#39; former parent company Aramark.
Vestis does not expect to record a material gain or loss as a result of the sale of its minority stake, which was accounted for as a non-operating equity investment and therefore not included in Operating Income or Adjusted EBITDA.

Asset Sales

VSTS

Vestis Agrees To Sell Its 39% Equity Stake In Aramark Uniform Services Japan Corporation To Majority Owner Mitsui & Co., Ltd. For $37M

Private equity giants such as Blackstone Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BX#NYSE">BX</a>) have seemingly gobbled up everything in the United States market, from <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=rover+blackstone+benzinga&amp;oq=rover+blackstone+benzinga&amp;gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyCQgAEEUYORigATIHCAEQIRigATIHCAIQIRigATIHCAMQIRigATIHCAQQIRigAdIBCDI2MjZqMGo5qAIAsAIB&amp;sourceid=chrome&amp;ie=UTF-8">pet care</a> to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/03/37719939/is-it-time-to-buy-the-commercial-real-estate-dip-the-worlds-biggest-private-equity-">real estate</a>, even eying a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/sports/24/05/38710804/nfl-rule-could-open-door-for-big-money-investors-will-your-team-go-up-for-sale">purchase of sports teams</a>. The NYC-based investment management company has eyed a new opportunity: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/japan">the Japanese market</a>. 
What Happened: Nikkei Asia <a href="https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Finance/Blackstone-eyes-10bn-in-Japan-deals-amid-buyout-fund-influx">reported</a> that Blackstone is planning to invest $9.6 billion in Japan by 2027.
&#8220;There are a number of factors that have come together that have really accelerated growth in the Japanese economy as well as investment opportunities,&#8221; Blackstone President Jonathan Gray told Nikkei. &#8220;It&#8217;s been the return of inflation to the Japanese economy, the strength in the stock market, the policies under Prime Minister [Fumio] Kishida, which have encouraged individual Japanese to move from savers to investors, which we think is very important, the encouragement of companies to focus on return on equity and to look at selling noncore divisions.&#8221;
The iShares MSCI Japan ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EWJ#NYSE">EWJ</a>) is up over 9% in 2024 and the Japanese Yen is as weak against the U.S. Dollar as it has been in several decades.
Why it Matters: Blackstone is not alone in pursuing opportunities in the Japanese market. Investment managers, including Bain Capital and KKR &amp; Co Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KKR#NYSE">KKR</a>), are increasingly favoring Japan rather than China and India for investment opportunities.
Carlyle Group, which has previously invested in Japan, saw an internal rate of return of 28%, compared with around 8% to 14% for major Carlyle funds with focuses in Europe or Asia, according to Nikkei.
Berkshire Hathaway Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BRK#NYSE">BRK</a>) (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BRK#NYSE">BRK</a>) has made several investments in Japan in recent years. CEO Warren Buffett famously <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/17/opinion/17buffett.html">prefers</a> to invest in American companies, but a favorable Japanese interest rate environment led Berkshire to take stakes in the following Japanese conglomerates in 2020:
<ul>
<li>Itochu Corp.&nbsp;(OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ITOCY#OTC">ITOCY</a>)</li>
<li>Mitsubishi Corp.&nbsp;(OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSBHF#OTC">MSBHF</a>)</li>
<li>Mitsui &amp; Co., Ltd&nbsp;(OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MITSY#OTC">MITSY</a>)</li>
<li>Sumitomo Corp.&nbsp;(OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SSUMY#OTC">SSUMY</a>)</li>
<li>Marubeni Corp. (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MARUY#OTC">MARUY</a>)</li>
</ul>
The late vice-chairman Charlie Munger championed <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/startups/23/11/35539422/charlie-munger-raves-about-warren-buffetts-rare-japanese-investment-opportunity-of-a-century-it-was">Berkshire&#8217;s Japanese investments</a>.
&#8220;It was like having God just opening a chest and just pouring money into it,&#8221; Munger said.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/05/38959529/blackstone-to-grant-equity-to-rank-and-file-employees-at-us-buyouts-report">Blackstone To Grant Equity To Rank-And-File Employees At US Buyouts: Report</a>
Image generated using artificial intelligence via Midjourney.

Private Equity Giant Blackstone Targets Japanese Market, Anticipates 'Accelerated Growth': Report

The Nikkei 225, an index representing the shares of the 225 largest publicly traded Japanese companies, crossed the 39,000-point threshold, charting a remarkable U-shaped recovery <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/japan">through monumental economic shifts</a>.
However, renowned investor Warren Buffett might not be as hyped about this particular milestone. 
<img decoding="async" src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1708616119_0.png" alt="" />
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">A Different Story, For A Dollar-Based Investor</h2>
In January 1990, the global landscape was revolutionized by Japanese technological innovations (i.e., televisions, cameras, and video game consoles). 
During this era, the Nikkei 225 peaked at 38,950 points. This marked a staggering 500% increase over the previous decade, translating to an annualized return of 20%.
For the next 34 years, the Nikkei navigated through the dot-com bubble burst, the 2008 financial crisis, the economic ascent of China, and a prolonged period of tepid Japanese economic growth accompanied by over a decade of negative interest rates.
Its current performance presents a contrasting narrative for foreign investors converting their returns into their own currencies.
The dollar-yen exchange rate is currently hovering at its highest levels since July 1990, fueled by the contrasting monetary policies of the Federal Reserve and the Bank of Japan (BoJ), as well as the varying economic growth trajectories of the United States and Japan.
In a stark departure from the BoJ&#8217;s approach of maintaining interest rates at zero or even negative levels since the end of 2010, the Federal Reserve has escalated the cost of borrowing to highs not seen in over two decades, with rates ranging between 5.25% and 5.5%.
While the Yen-denominated Nikkei has showcased a robust gain of over 160% in the past decade, this achievement is significantly diminished for dollar-based investors like Buffett who opted for the currency unhedged iShares MSCI Japan Index Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EWJ#NYSE">EWJ</a>). 
For them, the return dwindles to just 46%, primarily eroded by the yen&#8217;s depreciation against the dollar. 
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="495" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/22095115/image-48-1024x495.png" alt="" class="wp-image-225537" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/22095115/image-48-1024x495.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/22095115/image-48-300x145.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/22095115/image-48-768x372.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/22095115/image-48-1536x743.png 1536w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/22095115/image-48.png 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Buffett Effect</h2>
Recall last April, when Buffett augmented his investments in Japanese corporations. The Oracle of Omaha set his sights on five major Japanese trading houses: Itochu Corp. (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ITOCY#OTC">ITOCY</a>), Mitsubishi Corp. (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSBHF#OTC">MSBHF</a>), Mitsui &amp; Co. (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MITSY#OTC">MITSY</a>), Sumitomo Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SMFG#NYSE">SMFG</a>), and Marubeni Corp. (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MARUY#OTC">MARUY</a>). 
Those entities are recognized for their diversified business operations and tend to be valued at lower or more reasonable market prices.
The &#8220;Buffett Effect&#8221; arguably catalyzed a wave of renewed enthusiasm and confidence in the Japanese stock market.
After Buffett&#8217;s notable investments in April, the Nikkei index experienced a significant 37% increase. Among the companies Buffett invested in, Mitsubishi was the standout, surpassing the overall performance of the Japanese market.
However, this period also saw the U.S. dollar strengthen dramatically, rising more than 12% against the Japanese yen. This increase in the dollar&#8217;s value had a moderating effect on the actual returns for investors who convert their earnings from Japanese stocks back into dollars. 
Essentially, while the investments in Japanese stocks showed paper gains in yen, the appreciation of the dollar against the yen meant that when these earnings were converted back to dollars, the gains were less impressive than they initially appeared.
Now Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/asia/24/02/37257680/asia-and-europe-markets-gain-gold-advances-and-crude-oil-inches-towards-78-global-market-overview-wh">Asia and Europe Markets Gain, Gold Advances, And Crude Oil Inches Towards $78 &#8211; Global Market Overview While The US Slept</a>
Image: Shutterstock

Econ #s

Federal Reserve

Japan's Nikkei 225 Hits Record Highs, But Warren Buffett Is Holding The Applause: Here's Why

Mitsui &amp; Co.(OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MITSY#OTC">MITSY</a>), one of Japan&#8217;s leading trading houses, has warned that global demand for&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/23/09/34496182/winter-is-coming-the-rise-of-liquefied-natural-gas-in-the-energy-market-not-everyone-will-be-a-winne" rel="noreferrer noopener">liquefied natural gas</a>&nbsp;(LNG) will likely exceed supply expectations, and the current project pipeline will not suffice to meet this demand, especially in the context of the ongoing energy transition.&nbsp;
What Happened: "Announced projects in the world still won't make up for the supply needed when considering the&nbsp;energy transition that will take several decades,&#8221;&nbsp;Kenichi Hori, the President of Mitsui, said, Bloomberg&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-10-16/world-lacks-enough-lng-for-energy-transition-key-trader-says" rel="noreferrer noopener">reported</a>.&nbsp;
The company, along with other major Japanese trading houses, is deeply involved in fossil fuels. Warren Buffett&#8216;s Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BRK#NYSE">BRK</a>) (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BRK#NYSE">BRK</a>) <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/asia/23/06/32913032/warren-buffetts-berkshire-hathaway-raises-stake-in-5-japanese-trading-houses" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">increased its stake</a> in these firms back in June. 
See Also:&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/best-energy-stocks" rel="noreferrer noopener">Best Energy Stocks for the Week</a>
While LNG is viewed as a cleaner fossil fuel to reduce emissions, tight supply conditions are expected to persist until around 2026 when new projects are set to begin operation.&nbsp;
Why It Matters:&nbsp;Mitsui recognizes the importance of diversifying supply sources for energy security, and Hori noted that the Middle East, including Qatar, remains a vital LNG source for Japan&#8217;s diversification efforts.&nbsp;
Besides gas and LNG, Mitsui is focusing on other pathways for the energy transition, including renewable energy, ammonia, and hydrogen. They have announced substantial investments in offshore wind projects and are exploring opportunities in e-methanol.&nbsp;
Mitsui envisions its portfolio evolving from traditional energy to a low-carbon-intensive era. They also plan to increase dividends when their base profit earnings power rises.&nbsp;
Read Next:&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/10/35302469/gavin-newsoms-climate-focused-china-visit-includes-stops-at-tesla-shanghai-factory-and-hong-kong-uni" rel="noreferrer noopener">Gavin Newsom&#8217;s Climate-Focused China Visit Includes Stops At Tesla Shanghai Factory And Hong Kong University</a>
Photo via Shutterstock
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Media

Warren Buffett-Backed Trading Giant's Warning: LNG Shortage Threatens Global Energy Shift

One of the most well-known investors of all time is seeing his recent investment activity called out by a more recent well-known investor.
Are the comments praise or an attempt to take on his legacy?
What Happened: Legendary investor and Berkshire Hathaway Inc (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/brk-a#NYSE">BRK-A</a>)(NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/brk-b#NYSE">BRK-B</a>) CEO <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/warren-buffett">Warren Buffett</a> has been increasing his bets on Japanese stocks and enjoying strong returns&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/asia/23/06/32865614/warren-buffetts-bets-on-this-country-tripled-to-17-billion-hint-its-not-the-us">in recent months.</a>
The investment strategy saw&nbsp;his ownership stakes in the Japanese companies increase and came&nbsp;at a time when major Japanese stock market indexes <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/asia/23/05/32403975/japanese-stocks-rallied-five-weeks-in-a-row-after-warren-buffetts-bet-outperforming-a-nearly-flat-s">outperformed the key American stock index metrics.</a>
Investor <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/chamath-palihapitiya">Chamath Palihapitiya</a>, who was once labeled as the &quot;next Buffett&quot; by the media, took to Twitter to share his thoughts on Buffett&rsquo;s strategy.
&ldquo;I was really curious about Buffett&rsquo;s ownership of the Japanese trading companies and wanted to understand why he did it? As it turns out, the trade is really brilliant,&rdquo; Palihapitiya <a href="https://twitter.com/chamath/status/1671806525029986304">tweeted</a>. &ldquo;He found a group of companies that had very low volatility, grew earnings predictably, had a good dividend and, in most cases, were buying back their stock.&rdquo;
Palihapitiya said the next step by Buffett is one that is &ldquo;awesome.&rdquo;
&ldquo;As far as I can tell, he issues Japanese debt at very low rates, uses the proceeds to buy the stocks and then uses the dividends he then gets from owning these stocks (which are greater than the interest rates he&rsquo;s paying to borrow in the first place) to pay the coupon!&rdquo;
The investor said this could be a &ldquo;near-risk less bet&rdquo; by borrowing trillions of Japanese Yen for free and using the proceeds to buy stakes in companies that are &ldquo;growing earnings in the mid-teens.&rdquo;
&ldquo;And over a 10-20 year holding period, he becomes insensitive to currency vol and so really can&rsquo;t lose money. He locks in the earnings gains over this period along with whatever spread he keeps between his dividends and his coupons.&rdquo;
The risk for Buffett is the concern that the Japanese economy could totally blow up, which Palihapitiya said is &ldquo;pretty unlikely&rdquo; as the companies in question are also exposed to the rest of the world.
&ldquo;It&rsquo;s inspiring to see folks act this intelligently at scale. That&rsquo;s why he&rsquo;s the (GOAT).&rdquo;
Related Link: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/06/32915688/chamath-palihapitiya-sounds-the-alarm-corporate-america-running-into-massive-debt-wall">Chamath Palihapitiya Sounds The Alarm-Corporate America Running Into Massive Debt Wall</a>
Why It&rsquo;s Important: The post by Palihapitiya drew plenty of responses from the public and his 1.6 million followers on Twitter.
One user questioned the potential criticism of Buffett as he once compared himself to the famed investor. Palihapitiya said he never compared himself to Buffett and it was the media.
&ldquo;Don&rsquo;t trust what you read,&rdquo; Palihapitiya said.
Another user said this was misleading as the shareholder letters issued by Social Capital in 2018, 2019 and 2020 compared early returns of his&nbsp;Social Capital to Berkshire Hathaway.
&ldquo;You chose Buffett as your benchmark. Which is comparing yourself to him,&rdquo; the user said.
Palihapitiya said this was different than a comparison and was only a benchmark.
One user was quick to point out that Buffett is producing a crazy return on equity by borrowing at 0% to 1% and investing in 7% to 10%. Palihapitiya said it could be better than this with borrowing at 1% to 2% and investing at 12% to 14%.
Palihapitiya acknowledged a user that called Buffett&rsquo;s strategy as yield farming by calling it &ldquo;OG yield farming.&rdquo;
A user asked what it was that the Japanese companies Buffett has invested in do and how he can use this investment strategy.
&ldquo;They are middlemen that trade in various commodities for many economies in the world. So as long as the world needs &lsquo;stuff&rsquo; these folks will provide it for a small fee&hellip;hence it&rsquo;s bet levered world GDP which tends to grow over long periods of time,&rdquo; Palihapitiya said.
Palihapitiya added the Berkshire Hathaway can issue debt anywhere on the planet.
Short seller<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/muddy-waters"> Muddy Waters</a> replied to Palihapitiya&rsquo;s post asking if it &ldquo;depends on what the definition of &lsquo;is&rsquo; is.&rdquo;
&ldquo;Don&rsquo;t worry about this mid level bullsh**. I&rsquo;m just trolling these guys,&rdquo; Palihapitiya told Muddy Waters.
The comments by Palihapitiya come as Buffett&rsquo;s bets on five Japanese companies have grown from $6 billion to $17 billion.
Berkshire Hathaway <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/asia/23/06/32913032/warren-buffetts-berkshire-hathaway-raises-stake-in-5-japanese-trading-houses">took 5% stakes</a> in several Japanese companies back in August 2020, positions which have increased along the way. The Japanese companies are:
Itochu Corp (OTC: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/itocf#OTC">ITOCF</a>)
Marubeni Corp (OTC: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/maruf#OTC">MARUF</a>)
Mitsubishi Corp (OTC: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/msbhf#OTC">MSBHF</a>)
Mitsui &amp; Co Ltd (OTC: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/mitsy#OTC">MITSY</a>)
Sumitomo Corp (OTC: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ssumf#OTC">SSUMF</a>)
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/politics/23/06/32906347/chamath-palihapitiya-hosts-fundraiser-for-robert-kennedy-jr-i-saw-a-really-authentic-and-sensiti">Chamath Palihapitiya Hosts Fundraiser For Robert Kennedy Jr: &#39;I Saw A Really Authentic And Sensitive Person</a>
Photo: CP via Shutterstock, Buffet via White House (Public Domain) 
&nbsp;

Short Sellers

BRK-A

BRK-B

SSUMF

Chamath Palihapitiya Calls Out Warren Buffett's Japanese Investments: Is He Throwing Shade Or Praising The Legendary Investor?

Warren Buffett&#39;s Berkshire Hathaway Inc&nbsp;(NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/brk#NYSE">BRK</a>) announced&nbsp;Monday that it&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/asia/23/06/32865614/warren-buffetts-bets-on-this-country-tripled-to-17-billion-hint-its-not-the-us" target="_blank">has increased its stakes in Japan&#39;s top five trading houses</a>. This move is believed to have contributed to the robust momentum driving the nation&#39;s stock market to reach multiyear highs.
The company holds stakes in&nbsp;Itochu Corp.&nbsp;(OTCPK: ITOCF),&nbsp;Marubeni Corp.&nbsp;(OTCPK: MARUF),&nbsp;Mitsubishi Corp.&nbsp;(OTCPK: MSBHF),&nbsp;Mitsui &amp; Co. Ltd&nbsp;(OTCPK: MITSY), and&nbsp;Sumitomo Corp.&nbsp;(OTCPK: SSUMF).
Berkshire&nbsp;said its stakes in these companies now average more than 8.5%. The Japanese companies&#39;&nbsp;aggregate value considerably exceeds Berkshire-held public stocks in any other country outside of the U.S.
In 2020, Berkshire first bought stakes in Japan&#39;s trading houses.&nbsp;
&quot;The tailwinds for Japanese equities continue to multiply,&quot; Reuters quoted Charu Chanana, market strategist at broker Saxo Markets&nbsp;in Singapore, as saying.
Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/06/32881813/warren-buffetts-151-billion-gamble-customers-wont-trade-their-apple-iphones-for-10-000-and-heres-why">Warren Buffett&#39;s $151 Billion Gamble: Customers Won&#39;t Trade Their Apple iPhones For $10,000, And Here&#39;s Why</a>
&quot;While it was previously hinted that Berkshire will increase its stake, the announcement has come somewhat sooner than expected and will further boost optimism on Japanese stocks,&quot; Chanana said.&nbsp;
Berkshire remains committed to maintaining its Japanese investments for the foreseeable future. With regard to pricing, the company said it is open to expanding its holdings in any of the five assets, with a maximum stake of 9.9%.
Earlier in April, Buffett traveled to Japan and met with the CEOs of each of the five companies.
According to regulatory filings from June 12, the trading firms&#39; reports revealed Berkshire Hathaway&#39;s ownership percentages as follows: 7.4% of Itochu&#39;s stock, 8.3% of Marubeni and Mitsubishi&#39;s stock, 8.1% of Mitsui&#39;s stock&nbsp;and 8.2% of Sumitomo&#39;s stock, reports Reuters.
Now Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/06/32817154/warren-buffett-transformed-his-neighbors-life-savings-of-67-000-into-400-million">Warren Buffett Transformed His Neighbor&#39;s Life Savings Of $67,000 Into $400 Million</a>
Photo via Shutterstock.&nbsp;

Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Raises Stake In 5 Japanese Trading Houses

Warren Buffett consistently demonstrates a knack for spotting undervalued companies and making calculated, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/warren-buffett">often surprising moves</a>.
One of his more recent ventures took an unexpected turn to the Far East, with stakes in five Japanese companies ballooning to $17 billion in less than three years.
In August 2020, Buffett&rsquo;s Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/BRK-A">BRK-A</a>) (NYSE: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/BRK-B/news">BRK-B</a>) veered away from its familiar U.S.-based investments to snap up 5% stakes in the following companies:
Itochu Corp (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ITOCF#OTC">ITOCF</a>) 
Marubeni Corp (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MARUF#OTC">MARUF</a>) 
Mitsubishi Corp (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSBHF#OTC">MSBHF</a>) 
Mitsui &amp; Co Ltd (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MITSY#OTC">MITSY</a>) 
Sumitomo Corp (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SSUMF#OTC">SSUMF</a>)
Being dubbed the &ldquo;Oracle of Omaha&rdquo; is no small feat, and the Japanese investments illustrate why he holds the title.
Since those initial investments, he&#39;s added more to the positions, to the tune of 7.4%. With the Japanese stocks soaring to multi-decade highs, the $6 billion investment is now worth $17 billion, a gain of about 183%, placing Berkshire&rsquo;s Japanese holdings amongst its largest positions.
Read also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/06/32860674/if-you-invested-1-000-in-berkshire-hathaway-when-warren-buffett-became-the-worlds-richest-person-her">If You Invested $1,000 In Berkshire Hathaway When Warren Buffett Became The World&rsquo;s Richest Person, Here&rsquo;s How Much You&rsquo;d Have Today</a>
By the end of 2021, only nine of Berkshire&rsquo;s top 15 holdings were over the $4 billion mark &mdash; now, three of its Japanese holdings sit above that line, <a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/warren-buffett-berkshire-hathaway-japan-stock-price-portfolio-shareholder-returns-2023-6?utm_source=facebook&amp;utm_campaign=business-sf&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;fbclid=IwAR0VqYiMDqf2cdwg0wBL02_Pf2btGPu1zbKEEnOgZoFTlfoJVtN5wRkDlOY">according</a> to Business Insider.
Buffett isn&rsquo;t one to make moves without a calculated strategy. In Berkshire&rsquo;s annual meeting in May, he pointed out that the companies were &ldquo;ridiculously&rdquo; undervalued, deeply ingrained in industries familiar to Berkshire, and large enough to make a significant impact on Berkshire&rsquo;s earnings.
But what does Buffett&rsquo;s Far East venture mean for the everyday investor? There are opportunities to follow in Buffett&rsquo;s footsteps by investing in Japanese equities through exchange-traded funds.
Two notable options are the iShares MSCI Japan ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EWJ#NYSE">EWJ</a>) and the WisdomTree Japan Hedged Equity Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DXJ#NYSE">DXJ</a>) The former is vulnerable to fluctuations in the value of the Japanese yen versus the dollar, while the latter hedges against such currency swings, providing a safer bet for U.S.-based investors.
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/asia/23/05/32403975/japanese-stocks-rallied-five-weeks-in-a-row-after-warren-buffetts-bet-outperforming-a-nearly-flat-s">Japanese Stocks Rallied Five Weeks In A Row After Warren Buffett&rsquo;s Bet, Outperforming A Nearly Flat S&amp;P 500</a> 
Photo: Shutterstock

Mid Cap

Topics

General

Warren Buffett's Bets On This Country Tripled To $17 Billion: Hint, It's Not The US

Since Warren Buffett expressed willingness to raise his exposures to Japanese trading companies on&nbsp;April 10, the Nikkei 225 index, which represents the broad&nbsp;Japanese stock market, registered gains for five straight weeks, increasing by 8%&nbsp;and surging <a href="http://www.benzinga.com/markets/asia/23/04/31742382/buffett-loves-japan-nikkei-stocks-rally-after-berkshire-hathaway-ceo-says-he-raises-bets-in-five-jap" target="_blank">back to November 2021 highs.&nbsp;</a>
In comparison, the S&amp;P 500 index, which is tracked by the SPDR S&amp;P 500 Trust ETF (ARCA: SPY), only gained by 1% over the same time span, thus lagging well behind Japanese equities.&nbsp;
Until Buffett publicly stated his desire to boost his holdings of Japanese stocks, the Nikkei and the S&amp;P 500 had almost&nbsp;equal year-to-date performance, as the chart below shows.&nbsp;
Chart: The Buffett&#39;s Effect | Japanese Stocks&nbsp;Strongly Outperformed U.S. Peers Since Buffett&#39;s Bet In April
<img alt="" src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/u1363475/nikkei225_2023-05-15_18-51-54_3b864.png" style="height:500px; width:100%" />
Why Buffett Loves Japan:&nbsp;Buffett has long had an attraction for the Japanese &quot;sogo sosha,&quot;&nbsp;or trading house companies, which are diversified conglomerates that trade at cheap or discount&nbsp;valuations&nbsp;on the market. Just what Berkshire Hathaway Inc.&#39;s&nbsp;(NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/bkr-a#NYSE">BKR-A</a>) CEO&nbsp;needs to hear.&nbsp;
The &quot;Oracle of Omaha&quot;&nbsp;had purchased slightly more than 5% of Japan&#39;s top five trading houses in August 2020:&nbsp;Itochu Corp. (OTC: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/itocy#OTC">ITOCY</a>), Mitsubishi Corp. (OTC: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/msbhf#OTC">MSBHF</a>), Mitsui &amp; Co. Ltd. (OTC: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/mitsy#OTC">MITSY</a>), Sumitomo ADR&nbsp;(OTC: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ssumy#OTC">SSUMY</a>), and Marubeni ADR&nbsp;(OTC: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/maruy#OTC">MARUY</a>). Buffett&nbsp;then increased his bets twice in November 2022 and April 2023.&nbsp;
How To Invest In Japanese Equities: There are two major exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that provide investors with exposure to Japanese equities.
The primary distinction between them relates to their currency hedging strategies.
The currency-unhedged iShares MSCI Japan ETF (ARCA: EWJ) tracks a market-cap-weighted index that encompasses around 85% of the investable universe of securities traded in Japan. In this case, a U.S.-based investor would be susceptible to swings in the Japanese yen&#39;s performance versus the dollar.
The WisdomTree Japan Hedged Equity Fund (ARCA: DXJ) invests in Japanese dividend-paying firms while hedging against currency swings. In this situation, a U.S.-based investment would not be exposed to currency risk.
Over the previous three years, DXJ has significantly outperformed EWJ by more than 50% due to&nbsp;a sharp rise in the dollar&#39;s relative value to the yen.
Chart: There Has Been A&nbsp;Notable Performance Gap Between Hedged And Unhedged Japanese Equities
<img alt="" src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/u1363475/ewj_2023-05-15_19-19-51_7a0b5.png" style="height:500px; width:100%" />
Read Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/23/05/32369349/lessons-from-berkshire-warren-buffett-2023-shareholders-meeting-do-what-you-are-good-at-remove-toxic" target="_blank">Lessons From Berkshire Warren Buffett 2023 Shareholder&#39;s Meeting: Do What You Are Good At, Remove Toxic People And Be Kind</a>
Photo: Shutterstock
<ul>
</ul>

Opinion

Movers

BKR-A

Japanese Stocks Rallied Five Weeks In A Row After Warren Buffett's Bet, Outperforming A Nearly Flat S&P 500

Billionaire investor&nbsp;Warren Buffett&nbsp;said in an interview with Nikkei on Tuesday that&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/asia/23/04/31740469/warren-buffett-very-proud-of-japanese-investments-5-tokyo-listed-stocks-berkshire-has-stakes-in" target="_blank">he was proud of his investments in shares of Japanese trading houses.</a>
In his appearance on CNBC&rsquo;s Squawk Box on Wednesday, he elaborated further on the logic behind his Japanese bets.
What Happened:&nbsp;Buffett&rsquo;s agreed that his investment in Japanese stocks reflects his stamp of approval in Japan. This was accurate a couple of years ago too, he said.
&ldquo;I was confounded by the fact that we could buy into these companies and in effect have earnings yield, maybe 14% or something like that, with dividends&hellip;.. that grew 70% during that time and people were investing money at quarter percent or nothing, and then the quarter percent, if they put it out for a year, it wasn&rsquo;t going to grow,&rdquo; the billionaire said.
&ldquo;It&#39;s sure gonna be better than I thought it would be.&quot;
See Also:<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/warren-buffetts-forex-strategy" target="_blank">&nbsp;Warren Buffett&#39;s Forex Strategy</a>
Tracing Back Investment History:&nbsp;&nbsp;Buffett told CNBC that the investment in the Japanese trading houses started about four years ago.
&ldquo;I was looking at company after company, as I do every day and I just thought these were big companies. These were companies that I generally understood what they did, somewhat similar to&nbsp;Berkshire Hathaway, Inc.&nbsp;(NYSE:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/brk-a#NYSE" target="_blank">BRK-A</a>) (NYSE:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/brk-b#NYSE" target="_blank">BRK-B</a>),&quot; the billionaire investor said.
These stocks were trading at &ldquo;ridiculous&rdquo; prices, compared to the interest rates that prevailed at that time, he said.
Buffett said he, therefore, started buying all five largest trading houses during his 90th birthday (Aug. 30, 2020). The five trading companies Berkshire has stakes in are:
<ul>
<li>Itochu Corp.&nbsp;(OTC:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/itocy#OTC" target="_blank">ITOCY</a>)</li>
<li>Mitsubishi Corp.&nbsp;(OTC:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/msbhf#OTC" target="_blank">MSBHF</a>)</li>
<li>Mitsui &amp; Co., Ltd&nbsp;(OTC:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/mitsy#OTC" target="_blank">MITSY</a>)</li>
<li>Sumitomo Corp.&nbsp;(OTC:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ssumy#OTC" target="_blank">SSUMY</a>) and</li>
<li>Marubeni Corp.&nbsp;(OTC:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/maruy#OTC" target="_blank">MARUY</a>)</li>
</ul>
Berkshire picked up an identical 5% stake in each of these companies and Buffett wrote to the CEOs of the companies at that time that he would never buy more than 9.9% in each without their consent.
Since Berkshire&rsquo;s purchases, the dividends of these companies have, on average, gone up by about 70%, he noted.
The investment guru also said Berkshire now owns 7.4% of each of these companies. He also said during his Japanese visit, he met with each of these companies over the past two days.
Buffett said these stocks are long-term bets. &ldquo;We&#39;ll be in these stocks 10-20 years,&rdquo; he said.
Read Next:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/23/03/31505925/did-warren-buffett-miss-tesla-train-at-bargain-200m-valuation-elon-musk-reminds-investme" target="_blank">Did Warren Buffett Miss Tesla Train At Bargain $200M Valuation? Elon Musk Reminds Investment Guru Of Lost Opportunity</a>
Image generated using artificial intelligence on Midjourney
&nbsp;

BRKA

Warren Buffett Reveals 'Confounding' Fact That Made Him Invest In Japan's Top 5 Trading Firms: 'Better Than I Thought'

Shares of the Nikkei 225, the largest equity index in Japan, increased more than 1% after Berkshire Hathaway Inc&nbsp;(NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/bkr-a#NYSE">BKR-A</a>) CEO Warren Buffett stated in a media interview with Nikkei press that he plans to increase his exposure to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/asia/23/04/31740469/warren-buffett-very-proud-of-japanese-investments-5-tokyo-listed-stocks-berkshire-has-stakes-in" target="_blank">Japanese trading houses</a>.&nbsp;
After revealing in August 2020&nbsp;it had purchased somewhat more than 5% of Japan&#39;s top five trading houses &mdash;&nbsp;Itochu Corp. (OTC:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ITOCY#OTC">ITOCY</a>), Mitsubishi Corp.&nbsp;(OTC:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSBHF#OTC">MSBHF</a>), Mitsui &amp; Co. (OTC: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/mitsy#OTC">MITSY</a>), Sumitomo Corp. (OTC:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SSUMY#OTC">SSUMY</a>)&nbsp;and Marubeni Corp. (OTC:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MARUY#OTC">MARUY</a>) &mdash; Buffett expanded its interests in Japanese stocks in November.
Sogo sosha, or Japanese trading corporations, are diversified conglomerates that typically trade at low or cheap market valuations.
Buffett&#39;s favorite Japanese equities trade at single-digit future P/E ratios, giving them an appealing value proposition that has likely piqued the interest of the &quot;Oracle of Omaha,&quot; who is now in Japan on a business trip.
<img alt="" src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/u1363475/koyfin_20230411_013801213.png" style="height:500px; width:968px" />
Itochu CEO Masahiro&nbsp;Okafuji told Nikkei that he is &quot;confident&quot;&nbsp;Buffett thinks the Japanese market justifies more investment. The iShares MSCI Japan Index Fund (ARCA: EWJ) is up 4.8% year-to-date.&nbsp;
Market Reactions To Buffett&rsquo;s Interview: Shares of the five Japanese trading houses rallied more than 2% at the close of the market session in Tokyo.
Mitsubishi Corp. (8058) gained 2%, Mitsui &amp; Co. (8031) was up by 2.7%, Itochu Corp. (8001) by 3%, Sumitomo Corp. (8053) by 3.2% and Marubeni Corp. (8002) by 4.6%.
<img alt="" src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/u1363475/8001_2023-04-11_13-21-48_9c642.png" style="height:500px; width:100%" />
Read Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/04/31731723/5-of-the-craziest-things-warren-buffett-has-spent-his-money-on" target="_blank">5 Of The Craziest Things Warren Buffett Has Spent His Money On</a>&nbsp;
Photos: Shutterstock

Buffett Loves Japan: Nikkei Stocks Rally After Berkshire Hathaway CEO Says He Raises Bets in Five Japanese Trading Houses

Benzinga
<a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/social-media/23/04/31737585/twitter-is-officially-defunct-as-elon-musk-pursues-superapp-goal" style="color:#4a6ee0; background:transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt" target="_blank">Twitter Inc Is Officially Defunct As Elon Musk Pursues&#39; Superapp&#39; Goal</a>
<ul>
<li>Twitter Inc,&nbsp;the parent company of the namesake social media platform, has ceased to exist, and it has now been merged into&nbsp;X Corp.,&nbsp;court filings show.</li>
<li>&#39;Chief Twit&#39;&nbsp;Elon Musk&nbsp;also appeared to acknowledge the change early on Tuesday by tweeting out &quot;X.&quot;</li>
<li>The development came to light in a court filing of Twitter&#39;s corporate disclosure statement in connection with a lawsuit brought about by right-wing activist Laura Loomer. She is fighting against Twitter banning her account in 2019.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/04/31738895/hyundais-electric-vision-18b-investment-paves-way-for-companys-commitment-to-electric-cars" style="color:#4a6ee0; background:transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt" target="_blank">Hyundai&#39;s Electric Vision: $18B Investment Paves Way for Company&#39;s Commitment To Electric Cars</a>
<ul>
<li>Hyundai Motor Company&nbsp;(OTC: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/hymtf#OTC">HYMTF</a>) plans to invest 24 trillion won ($18.2 billion) by 2030 to boost electrification.</li>
<li>The group, including Hyundai Motor, Kia, and Genesis electric models, expects to expand the annual EV production in Korea to 1.51 million units and global volume to 3.64 million units by 2030.</li>
<li>The investment will be used to upgrade Korea&#39;s EV ecosystem and to promote domestic EV production, R&amp;D, infrastructure, and related industries.</li>
</ul>
<a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/biotech/23/04/31741627/mixed-results-for-moderna-on-vaccine-day-influenza-vaccine-candidate-testing-to-continue-despite-" style="color:#4a6ee0; background:transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt" target="_blank">Moderna&#39;s Vaccine Day: Influenza Vaccine Candidate Testing To Continue As It Misses&#39; Early Success&#39; Threshold</a>
<ul>
<li>Moderna Inc&#39;s&nbsp;(NASDAQ:&nbsp;<a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/mrna#NASDAQ" style="color:#4a6ee0; background:transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt" target="_blank">MRNA</a>) first vaccine candidate against influenza is mRNA-1010, which is being developed in adults.</li>
<li>The independent Data and Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) has completed the first interim efficacy analysis for the second Phase 3 trial (P302) conducted in the Northern Hemisphere to evaluate the safety and non-inferior efficacy compared to a licensed flu vaccine.</li>
<li>The DSMB said mRNA-1010 did not meet the statistical threshold to declare early success.</li>
</ul>
<a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/large-cap/23/04/31740193/disclosure-violations-cost-goldman-sachs-15m-as-settlement-in-swap-business" style="color:#4a6ee0; background:transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt" target="_blank">Disclosure Violations Cost Goldman Sachs $15M as Settlement in Swap Business</a>
<ul>
<li>Goldman Sachs Group Inc&nbsp;(NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/gs#NYSE">GS</a>) agreed to pay $15 million to settle U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) charges that it failed to make proper disclosures and communicate fairly to swap customers.</li>
<li>In 2015 and 2016, Goldman opportunistically solicited or agreed to enter into same-day swaps only on days and at times that were financially advantageous to Goldman and disadvantageous to its clients.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/large-cap/23/04/31739764/newmont-raises-bid-for-newcrest-takeover-offers-46-premium-to-feb-3-price-at-19-5b-valuation" style="color:#4a6ee0; background:transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt" target="_blank">Newmont Raises Bid For Newcrest Takeover, Offers 46% Premium to Feb 3 Price At $19.5B Valuation</a>
<ul>
<li>Newmont Corporation&nbsp;(NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/nem#NYSE">NEM</a>) submitted a final revised takeover offer to&nbsp;Newcrest Mining Limited&nbsp;(OTC: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ncmgy#OTC">NCMGY</a>), bidding a 46% premium to the closing price of Newcrest shares as on Feb 3, 2023.&nbsp;</li>
<li>The latest offer values Newcrest Mining at $19.5 billion, making it the largest-ever M&amp;A deal in the gold-mining industry.</li>
<li>Newcrest is Australia&#39;s largest gold miner, which had rejected the previous offer from Newmont at a $17.5 billion valuation. The company initially proposed the acquisition in February 2023.</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
CNBC
<a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/04/31737812/chatgpt-rivalry-gets-bigger-alibaba-plans-to-integrate-chatbot-across-products-at-low-cost" style="color:#4a6ee0; background:transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt" target="_blank">ChatGPT Rivalry Gets Bigger: Alibaba Plans to Integrate Chatbot Across Products at Low Cost</a>
<ul>
<li>On Tuesday,&nbsp;Alibaba Group Holding Limited&nbsp;(NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/baba#NYSE">BABA</a>) cloud computing unit shared plans to launch its&nbsp;ChatGPT&nbsp;counterpart Tongyi Qianwen.</li>
<li>Alibaba Cloud initially proposed to deploy Tongyi Qianwen with Chinese and English language capabilities on Slack counterpart DingTalk, Alibaba&#39;s workplace communication software, and Tmall Genie, a provider of smart home appliances.</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
Nikkei
<a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/asia/23/04/31740469/warren-buffett-very-proud-of-japanese-investments-5-tokyo-listed-stocks-berkshire-has-stakes-in" style="color:#4a6ee0; background:transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt" target="_blank">Warren Buffett &#39;Very Proud&#39; Of Japanese Investments: 5 Tokyo-Listed Stocks Berkshire Has Stakes In</a>
<ul>
<li>Billionaire investor&nbsp;Warren Buffett&nbsp;has set his sights on the far east to put his money to work.</li>
<li>Buffett, who runs the investment holding company&nbsp;Berkshire Hathaway&nbsp;(NYSE:&nbsp;<a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/brk-a#NYSE" style="color:#4a6ee0; background:transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt" target="_blank">BRK-A</a>) (NYSE:&nbsp;<a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/brk-b#NYSE" style="color:#4a6ee0; background:transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt" target="_blank">BRK-B</a>), is &quot;very proud&quot; of his investments in Japanese stocks, the billionaire told in an interview with Nikkei.</li>
<li>Berkshire, in Aug. 2020, picked up more than 5% stake in each of Japan&#39;s five trading houses, namely&nbsp;Itochu Corp&nbsp;(OTC:&nbsp;<a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/itocy#OTC" style="color:#4a6ee0; background:transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt" target="_blank">ITOCY</a>),&nbsp;Mitsubishi Corp&nbsp;(OTC:&nbsp;<a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/msbhf#OTC" style="color:#4a6ee0; background:transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt" target="_blank">MSBHF</a>),&nbsp;Mitsui &amp; Co., Ltd&nbsp;(OTC:&nbsp;<a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/mitsy#OTC" style="color:#4a6ee0; background:transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt" target="_blank">MITSY</a>),&nbsp;Sumitomo Corp&nbsp;(OTC:&nbsp;<a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ssumy#OTC" style="color:#4a6ee0; background:transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt" target="_blank">SSUMY</a>), and&nbsp;Marubeni Corp.&nbsp;(OTC:&nbsp;<a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/maruy#OTC" style="color:#4a6ee0; background:transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt" target="_blank">MARUY</a>).</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
Reuters
<a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/04/31738877/amc-britain-rival-cineworld-files-restructuring-plan-in-bankruptcy-court-shareholders-to-be-wiped-ou" style="color:#4a6ee0; background:transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt" target="_blank">AMC Britain Rival Cineworld Files Restructuring Plan in Bankruptcy Court, Shareholders to be Wiped Out</a>
<ul>
<li>On Tuesday,&nbsp;Cineworld Group PLC&nbsp;(OTC: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/cnnwq#OTC">CNNWQ</a>) (OTC: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/cnwgq#OTC">CNWGQ</a>) said it had filed a reorganization plan in a Texas bankruptcy court to dissolve existing shareholdings effectively.</li>
<li>The filing formalizes the cinema chain operator&#39;s Apr 3 deal that includes plans to cut debt by about $4.53 billion and raise $2.26 billion to emerge from bankruptcy.</li>
<li>Cineworld, which expects to emerge from Chapter 11 in the first half of 2023, said any transaction resulting from the marketing process might delay emergence beyond that point.</li>
</ul>
<a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/04/31738440/boeing-aims-to-reach-pre-crisis-737-max-production-rates-in-2025-report" style="color:#4a6ee0; background:transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt" target="_blank">Boeing Aims To Reach Pre-Crisis 737 MAX Production Rates In 2025</a>
<ul>
<li>Boeing Co&nbsp;(NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ba#NYSE">BA</a>) expects its 737 MAX jet to return to its 2019 production rate of 52 per month in 2025.</li>
<li>The aircraft maker&#39;s bestselling jet demand nosedived following two deadly crashes and the COVID-19 pandemic.</li>
<li>Boeing currently builds 31 737 MAX jets per month. The company aims to increase monthly MAX production to 38 in June, 42 by January 2024, and 47 by June 2024.</li>
</ul>
<a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/biotech/23/04/31739346/drugmakers-stand-up-for-reproductive-rights-pfizer-and-biogen-among-300-condemning-abortion-pill-" style="color:#4a6ee0; background:transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt" target="_blank">Drugmakers Stand Up for Reproductive Rights: Pfizer and Biogen Among 300 Condemning Abortion Pill Approval Suspension</a>
<ul>
<li>Last week Friday, a U.S. judge suspended the FDA&#39;s approval of mifepristone, effectively banning sales. Executives from over 300 companies, including&nbsp;Pfizer Inc&nbsp;(NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/pfe#NYSE">PFE</a>) and&nbsp;Biogen Inc&nbsp;(NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/biib#NASDAQ">BIIB</a>), signed an open letter calling to reverse a federal judge&#39;s decision.</li>
<li>The abortion pill has been available since 2000. The letter&#39;s authors wrote that the ruling ignores scientific evidence and legal precedent.</li>
</ul>
<a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/04/31739074/clear-skies-ahead-chinese-airlines-resume-boeing-737-max-operations-report" style="color:#4a6ee0; background:transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt" target="_blank">Clear Skies Ahead: Chinese Airlines Resume Boeing 737 MAX Operations</a>
<ul>
<li>Boeing&nbsp;(NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ba#NYSE">BA</a>) reportedly disclosed that 11 Chinese airlines had resumed 737 MAX operations as of Apr 10, a positive indication of its efforts to rebuild its business in the world&#39;s second-largest aviation market.</li>
<li>The number of 737 MAX returning to commercial service reached 43, accounting for approximately 45% of the Chinese 737 MAX fleet.</li>
<li>Boeing didn&#39;t name the airlines, but Hainan Airlines Holding Co Ltd, Fuzhou Airlines, Lucky Air, and Air China have all flown the jets in the months.</li>
</ul>
<a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/04/31740222/mitsubishi-heavy-industries-pockets-2-8b-missile-contracts-from-japan-report" style="color:#4a6ee0; background:transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt" target="_blank">Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Pockets $2.8B Missile Contracts From Japan</a>
<ul>
<li>Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd&nbsp;(OTC: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/mhvyf#OTC">MHVYF</a>) has reportedly secured contracts worth $2.84 billion (378 billion yen) from Japan.</li>
<li>Under the contract, Mitsubishi Heavy will develop and build a new missile force to deter China from using military force in East Asia.</li>
<li>The four contracts include land, sea, and air-launched missiles and a hypersonic ballistic warhead that it wants to begin deploying in 2026, the report quoted Japan&#39;s Ministry of Defense.</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
Bloomberg
<a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/23/04/31738465/antitrust-penalty-south-korea-hits-google-with-32m-fine-for-anti-competitive-mobile-app-behavior" style="color:#4a6ee0; background:transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt" target="_blank">Antitrust Penalty: South Korea Hits Google with $32M Fine for Anti-Competitive Mobile App Behavior</a>
<ul>
<li>South Korea penalized&nbsp;Alphabet Inc&#39;s&nbsp;(NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/goog#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/googl#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>)&nbsp;Google&nbsp;42.1 billion won ($32 million) for exploiting its influence in the mobile app market to drive away a local rival.</li>
<li>Google tried to block Korean platform rival&nbsp;One Store Co&#39;s&nbsp;growth, Bloomberg cites&nbsp;Korea&#39;s Fair Trade Commission&#39;s&nbsp;statement.</li>
<li>Google has denied offering benefits to developers who put their apps only on Google Play.</li>
</ul>
Photo by Ljupco Smokovski via Shutterstock and Wikimedia Commons

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NCMGY

Twitter Inc Is Officially Defunct, Alibaba Plans to Integrate ChatGPT Like Chatbot Across Products, Moderna's Flu Shot Study Misses 'Early Success' Criteria: Today's Top Stories

Billionaire investor <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/04/31731723/5-of-the-craziest-things-warren-buffett-has-spent-his-money-on">Warren Buffett </a>has set his sights on the far east to put his money to work.
What Happened: &nbsp;Buffett, who runs the investment holding company, Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BRK#NYSE">BRK</a>) (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BRK#NYSE">BRK</a>), is "very proud" of his investments in Japanese stocks, the billionaire <a href="https://asia.nikkei.com/Editor-s-Picks/Interview/Warren-Buffett-says-he-intends-to-add-to-Japanese-stock-holdings2">told</a> in an interview with Nikkei.
Berkshire in Aug. 2020 picked up more than 5% stake in each of Japan's five trading houses, namely Itochu Corp. (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ITOCY#OTC">ITOCY</a>), Mitsubishi Corp. (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSBHF#OTC">MSBHF</a>), Mitsui &amp; Co., Ltd (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MITSY#OTC">MITSY</a>), Sumitomo Corp. (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SSUMY#OTC">SSUMY</a>) and Marubeni Corp. (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MARUY#OTC">MARUY</a>), the report said.
He then went on to augment the stakes in Nov. 2022, it added.
The "Oracle of Omaha" reportedly said he would meet with these companies this week to have a discussion about their businesses and emphasize his support.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-invest-in-startups">How To Invest In Startups</a>
Why It's Important: Buffett is a proponent of value investment – a strategy of picking up businesses at a discount to their intrinsic value. Berkshire's top holdings include Apple, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) and Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KO#NYSE">KO</a>), among others. The company has recently been <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/23/03/31523799/how-much-1-000-invested-in-occidental-when-warren-buffett-bought-the-stock-at-onset-of-r">building a position in the upstream oil and gas company Occidental Petroleum Corp </a>(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/OXY#NYSE">OXY</a>).
Buffett's Berkshire has also invested in other Asian companies such as BYD Company Limited (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BYDDY#OTC">BYDDY</a>) (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BYDDY#OTC">BYDDY</a>).
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/02/31060887/warren-buffett-says-in-58-years-of-managing-berkshire-his-decisions-no-better-than-so-so-heres-his-s">Warren Buffett Says In 58 Years Of Managing Berkshire His Decisions &#8216;No Better Than So-So&#8217;: Here&#8217;s His &#8216;Secret Sauce&#8217;</a>

BYDDY

Warren Buffett 'Very Proud' Of Japanese Investments: 5 Tokyo-Listed Stocks Berkshire Has Stakes In

<ul>
<li>Aramark&nbsp;(NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/armk#NYSE">ARMK</a>) has&nbsp;<a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/23/02/b30683043/aramark-to-sell-ownership-stake-in-aim-services" style="background-image:initial; background-position:initial; background-size:initial; background-repeat:initial; background-attachment:initial; background-origin:initial; background-clip:initial; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; color:#4a6ee0" target="_blank">agreed to sell its 50% equity</a>&nbsp;stake in AIM Services to&nbsp;Mitsui &amp; Co., Ltd.&nbsp;(OTC: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/mitsy#OTC">MITSY</a>)&nbsp;for $535 million.</li>
<li>The company will use the proceeds from the transaction toward debt repayment.</li>
<li>AIM Services was established as a joint venture between Aramark and Mitsui Group companies in 1976 to provide food services to clients across various business sectors in Japan.</li>
<li>&ldquo;Monetizing this non-controlling interest will enhance operating focus, strengthen our balance sheet through accelerated debt repayment, and will be accretive to earnings per share,&rdquo; said John Zillmer, Aramark&#39;s CEO.</li>
<li>The transaction is anticipated to close at the beginning of Aramark&#39;s Q3.</li>
<li>The&nbsp;<a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/22/11/b29723219/aramark-reports-fourth-quarter-and-full-year-fiscal-2022-results" style="background-image:initial; background-position:initial; background-size:initial; background-repeat:initial; background-attachment:initial; background-origin:initial; background-clip:initial; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; color:#4a6ee0" target="_blank">company held $329.5 million in cash and equivalents</a>&nbsp;as of Sept. 30, 2022.</li>
<li>Aramark is scheduled to host its fiscal first-quarter earnings call on Feb. 7, 2023, at 8:30 a.m. ET.</li>
<li>Price Action: ARMK shares closed lower by 0.43% at $44.34 on Wednesday.</li>
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