In what appears to be a bet consumers will stick with discount retailers even after the economy rebounds, Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway increased its Wal-Mart holdings by almost 90 percent during the summer.  It added almost 18 million shares, currently worth almost $1 billion, in the third quarter.   Read More

Warren Buffett tells CNBC that Berkshire Hathaway hasn't added to its stock holdings of American Express "in years."  That's in response to a statement made by biographer Alice Schroeder in the just-published paperback edition of The Snowball.    Read More

And what it means for housing. Plus, get calls on the banks, alternative energy and more.   Read More

How can you make money on these new announcements? The Fast Money traders have some profitable plays for your portfolio.    Read More

Alice Schroeder's authorized biography of Warren Buffett is now available in a trade paperback edition.  In an "updated and condensed" version of The Snowball: Warren Buffett and the Business of Life, Schroeder adds a new 31-page chapter covering events after the hardcover's publication last year.  She candidly describes how Buffett made a "series of characteristic brilliant moves interspersed with some surprising errors" as the financial crisis unfolded. With thanks to Bantam and Random House, here is an excerpt from Schroeder's new material.   Read More

No doubt last year’s financial crisis dealt a body blow to many investors, but many Boomers approaching retirement have yet to turn their reaction to last year’s events into action.     Read More

What do you do with a former bank branch? Real-estate agents are getting creative. But here's the good news ...   Read More

In extended trade shares of Cisco popped as much as 4% after the company beat Street estimates. But is it enough to spark a rally?   Read More

An interesting article in the Wall Street Journal today about Wells Fargo & Co. modifying some of its worst loans into interest-only loans got me thinking about the housing recovery in a new light.    Read More

Warren Buffett announced that Berkshire Hathaway is going to acquire Burlington Northern in a $44 billion deal and said he is “betting on America.” Is it really the right time to bet on U.S. companies? Thomas Russo, partner at Gardner, Russo & Gardner, shared his insights.    Read More