Braunie at The Market Guardian is not optimistic that Warren Buffett’s investment style will make a successful comeback any time soon. As Joe Weisenthal‘s article (below) further illustrates, it’s not only the change in market forces that is so discouraging, but also the government’s ability and willingness to change the rules mid-game.
Warren Buffett Has Spoken
The Oracle Warren Buffett told his shareholders Saturday that 2008 was the company’s worst year on record, as the per share value of both the Class A and Class B stock fell 9.6%. In his annual letter, Buffett said neither he nor Charlie Munger, his partner in running Berkshire, can predict winning and losing years in advance, and that no one else can. “We’re certain, for example, that the economy will be in shambles throughout 2009 – and, for that matter, probably well beyond – but that conclusion does not tell us whether the stock market will rise or fall.”
The Old Oracle Buffett has had the worst 5 months in his career. His balance sheet is filled with bull market positions in this bear market. He hasn’t hedged his $38 billion of short puts. Warren is watching his fully invested position go down the drain. If stocks go to the p/e levels of 7-9x that we saw in ’74, he will be wiped out. I was recently reading an article where the author (a respected trader) said that he suspects Berkshire could be going to ZERO within the next 12 months. Seems very far fetched but who would have thought a year ago Dow 6000’s?
Mr. Buffett’s October investments were a complete show to help build confidence in the market. His infusions into Wells Fargo and Goldman Sachs were at least as dumb as the GE debacle. The act was stupid and egotistical of Buffett to think he could control market psychology. Buffett failed to recognize the situation for what it was -the end of an economic era. Like Greenspan, could this Guru of investment soon be a discredited?
It’s very sad to think Warren Buffett will witness the destruction of the company he built so many years ago. An entire life premise completely washed away.
This is a whole new world of investment folks. Nimble, rapid traders, not buy long for 20 years.
Buffett said: “In poker terms, the Treasury and the Fed have gone ‘all in.’ Economic medicine that was previously meted out by the cupful has recently been dispensed by the barrel. These once-unthinkable dosages will almost certainly bring on unwelcome aftereffects. Their precise nature is anyone’s guess, though one likely consequence is an onslaught of inflation.
“We’re certain, for example, that the economy will be in shambles throughout 2009 – and, for that matter, probably well beyond – but that conclusion does not tell us whether the stock market will rise or fall.”… “Moreover, major industries have become dependent on Federal assistance, and they will be followed by cities and states bearing mind-boggling requests. Weaning these entities from the public teat will be a political challenge. They won’t leave willingly."
