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Charlie Munger Raves About Warren Buffett’s Rare Japanese Investment Opportunity Of A Century — ‘It Was Like Having God Just Opening A Chest And Just Pouring Money Into It’ — High Rewards For A Low Risk

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Warren Buffett’s unexpected decision to invest in Japan during the 2020 pandemic seems to have paid off, and no one appears more pleased than Berkshire Hathaway Inc. Vice Chairman Charlie Munger.

The strategy was a departure from the company’s well-known preference for American enterprises like Apple Inc., the Coca-Cola Co., Bank of America Corp. and American Express Co. The company’s portfolio has often been a testament to its confidence in the U.S. market. Speaking on the Acquired podcast in October, however, Munger pointed out that the Japanese investment was a distinctive and lucrative opportunity that couldn’t be passed up.

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“If you’re as smart as Warren Buffett, maybe two, three times a century, you get an idea like that,” Munger said on the podcast. He cited Japan’s low interest rate environment as a key factor, saying, “The interest rates in Japan were 0.5% a year for 10 years, and these trading companies were really entrenched old companies.”

Berkshire Hathaway’s strategy involved borrowing money in Japan at a mere 0.5% interest and investing in companies there that offered a 5% dividend yield.

“It was like having God just opening a chest and just pouring money into it,” Munger said.

Initially, Berkshire Hathaway declared a $6 billion investment across five Japanese trading houses — Itochu International Inc., Marubeni Corp., Mitsubishi Corp., Mitsui & Co. Ltd. and Sumitomo Corp. Group — in August 2020. That investment has grown substantially and is now valued at approximately $17 billion, thanks in part to both additional share purchases and soaring stock prices of the companies involved.

Munger provided more detail on the mechanics of the investment, indicating it wasn’t an overnight success but rather a result of patient, incremental actions.

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“The only way you could get it was to be very patient and just pick away at little pieces at a time. It took forever to get $10 billion invested, but it was awfully easy money,” Munger said.

In contrast, U.S. interest rates have escalated to over 5% since last spring, adding another layer of context to the wisdom of this Japanese trade.

“We could do that, nobody else could,” said Munger, highlighting that Berkshire’s strong credit rating gave them access to such favorable borrowing terms in Japan.

In the Acquired podcast interview, the host pointed out a paradox: While Berkshire Hathaway’s excellent credit allows it access to low-interest loans, the company’s enormous scale makes it challenging to invest sufficiently large sums. In response, Munger agreed, stating, “That’s true, but why shouldn’t it be hard to make money? Why should it be easy?”

Before the podcast, at Berkshire Hathaway’s annual shareholders meeting in May, Buffett shared insights into these investments, noting that the selected companies were “ridiculously” cheap and compatible with Berkshire’s long-term vision.

Andrew McCagg of Nomura Asset Management UK Ltd. also offered his perspective on the investment.

“Improving shareholder returns were likely a bigger factor in Buffett’s decision to buy Japanese trading houses than some of the other factors,” he told Insider via email.

Berkshire Hathaway’s Japanese investments, as described by Munger, represent a special kind of opportunity: high rewards for low risk. The investment appears to be a case study in successful financial strategy, blending patient capital allocation with keen market observation.

In the realm of high-reward, low-risk investments, fine art presents another intriguing opportunity. Masterworks is a platform that has democratized access to the art market, traditionally considered an investment playground for the ultra-wealthy. Through Masterworks, everyday investors can now own shares in high-value artwork from renowned artists like Banksy and Jean-Michel Basquiat. This offers a unique chance to invest alongside billionaires, without needing a Berkshire Hathaway-sized budget.

According to data from various sources, including Art Market Research, fine art has outperformed the S&P 500 over the long term, further validating its investment potential. Like Berkshire Hathaway’s calculated risk in Japan, investing in art through platforms like Masterworks can provide a potentially lucrative yet relatively stable avenue for building wealth.

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This article Charlie Munger Raves About Warren Buffett’s Rare Japanese Investment Opportunity Of A Century — ‘It Was Like Having God Just Opening A Chest And Just Pouring Money Into It’ — High Rewards For A Low Risk originally appeared on Benzinga.com

 

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Economy

S&P/TSX composite down more than 200 points, U.S. stock markets also fall

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TORONTO – Canada’s main stock index was down more than 200 points in late-morning trading, weighed down by losses in the technology, base metal and energy sectors, while U.S. stock markets also fell.

The S&P/TSX composite index was down 239.24 points at 22,749.04.

In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was down 312.36 points at 40,443.39. The S&P 500 index was down 80.94 points at 5,422.47, while the Nasdaq composite was down 380.17 points at 16,747.49.

The Canadian dollar traded for 73.80 cents US compared with 74.00 cents US on Thursday.

The October crude oil contract was down US$1.07 at US$68.08 per barrel and the October natural gas contract was up less than a penny at US$2.26 per mmBTU.

The December gold contract was down US$2.10 at US$2,541.00 an ounce and the December copper contract was down four cents at US$4.10 a pound.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 6, 2024.

Companies in this story: (TSX:GSPTSE, TSX:CADUSD)

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

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S&P/TSX composite up more than 150 points, U.S. stock markets also higher

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TORONTO – Canada’s main stock index was up more than 150 points in late-morning trading, helped by strength in technology, financial and energy stocks, while U.S. stock markets also pushed higher.

The S&P/TSX composite index was up 171.41 points at 23,298.39.

In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was up 278.37 points at 41,369.79. The S&P 500 index was up 38.17 points at 5,630.35, while the Nasdaq composite was up 177.15 points at 17,733.18.

The Canadian dollar traded for 74.19 cents US compared with 74.23 cents US on Wednesday.

The October crude oil contract was up US$1.75 at US$76.27 per barrel and the October natural gas contract was up less than a penny at US$2.10 per mmBTU.

The December gold contract was up US$18.70 at US$2,556.50 an ounce and the December copper contract was down less than a penny at US$4.22 a pound.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 29, 2024.

Companies in this story: (TSX:GSPTSE, TSX:CADUSD)

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

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Investment

Crypto Market Bloodbath Amid Broader Economic Concerns

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The crypto market has recently experienced a significant downturn, mirroring broader risk asset sell-offs. Over the past week, Bitcoin’s price dropped by 24%, reaching $53,000, while Ethereum plummeted nearly a third to $2,340. Major altcoins also suffered, with Cardano down 27.7%, Solana 36.2%, Dogecoin 34.6%, XRP 23.1%, Shiba Inu 30.1%, and BNB 25.7%.

The severe downturn in the crypto market appears to be part of a broader flight to safety, triggered by disappointing economic data. A worse-than-expected unemployment report on Friday marked the beginning of a technical recession, as defined by the Sahm Rule. This rule identifies a recession when the three-month average unemployment rate rises by at least half a percentage point from its lowest point in the past year.

Friday’s figures met this threshold, signaling an abrupt economic downshift. Consequently, investors sought safer assets, leading to declines in major stock indices: the S&P 500 dropped 2%, the Nasdaq 2.5%, and the Dow 1.5%. This trend continued into Monday with further sell-offs overseas.

The crypto market’s rapid decline raises questions about its role as either a speculative asset or a hedge against inflation and recession. Despite hopes that crypto could act as a risk hedge, the recent crash suggests it remains a speculative investment.

Since the downturn, the crypto market has seen its largest three-day sell-off in nearly a year, losing over $500 billion in market value. According to CoinGlass data, this bloodbath wiped out more than $1 billion in leveraged positions within the last 24 hours, including $365 million in Bitcoin and $348 million in Ether.

Khushboo Khullar of Lightning Ventures, speaking to Bloomberg, argued that the crypto sell-off is part of a broader liquidity panic as traders rush to cover margin calls. Khullar views this as a temporary sell-off, presenting a potential buying opportunity.

Josh Gilbert, an eToro market analyst, supports Khullar’s perspective, suggesting that the expected Federal Reserve rate cuts could benefit crypto assets. “Crypto assets have sold off, but many investors will see an opportunity. We see Federal Reserve rate cuts, which are now likely to come sharper than expected, as hugely positive for crypto assets,” Gilbert told Coindesk.

Despite the recent volatility, crypto continues to make strides toward mainstream acceptance. Notably, Morgan Stanley will allow its advisors to offer Bitcoin ETFs starting Wednesday. This follows more than half a year after the introduction of the first Bitcoin ETF. The investment bank will enable over 15,000 of its financial advisors to sell BlackRock’s IBIT and Fidelity’s FBTC. This move is seen as a significant step toward the “mainstreamization” of crypto, given the lengthy regulatory and company processes in major investment banks.

The recent crypto market downturn highlights its volatility and the broader economic concerns affecting all risk assets. While some analysts see the current situation as a temporary sell-off and a buying opportunity, others caution against the speculative nature of crypto. As the market evolves, its role as a mainstream alternative asset continues to grow, marked by increasing institutional acceptance and new investment opportunities.

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