Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : Formerly About Applied Materials -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Teri Skogerboe who wrote (22447)	8/3/1998 4:12:00 PM
From: 16yearcycle	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 70976

Off Topic again(sorry) Last week it was stated here that Buffett was making a call on the market(negative) with his bond purchases. I refuted that with my comments on his enormous recent equity purchases, genre in particular. See below(vbg)............... Berkshire Hathaway Profit Up OMAHA, Neb. (AP) -- Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (NYSE:BRKa - news; BRK - news) reported today that its profit more than quadrupled in the fiscal second quarter due largely to gains from the sale of its investments in zero coupon Treasury bonds. Billionaire investor Warren Buffett's company earned $1.176 billion, or $947 a share, for the period ending June 30, compared with $278 million, or $226 a share, a year earlier. But excluding investment gains, profit rose 22 percent to $312 million, or $251 per share, from $255 million, or $207 per share. The gain was led by its Geico automobile insurance unit -- Berkshire's largest operation. The Omaha-based company, which has stakes in such companies as Coca (NYSE:KO - news)-Cola, Gillette, American Express (NYSE:AXP - news) and Walt Disney, said investment gains soared to $864 million from $23 million in 1997. Berkshire's net earnings for the first half of the year were $1.898 billion, or $1,529 per share, up from $562 million from the year before, or $456 per share. During the second quarter, Berkshire announced plans to acquire Stamford, Conn.-based General Re (NYSE:GRN - news), the largest reinsurer in the United States and third-largest in the world, for $22 billion worth of stock. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

To: Teri Skogerboe who wrote (22447)	8/3/1998 10:02:00 PM
From: Paul V.	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 70976

Teri, and threaders, What will happen to the AMAT price when there appears to be a turn around in the Pacific Rim nations and the FED has no more reason to hold down interest rate. AMAT, I believe, has approx. 55% of their business in the Asia countries. Please correct me if I am wrong. Will the FED rate increase negatively impact AMAT's turnaround or will there be a double whammy to SEMI's and AMAT? With FED rate increases, IMO, the US market will slow. Then, IMO, the rest of the World will be making the gains from their lows. Economist, and Techie's (Big Bucks, John L, Tito, etc.) on this site how will this impact AMAT. Just looking ahead at the possible alternatives to the various recoveries and the implications. Any ideas? Paul V. Paul