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May.13
9:24 AM ET
Tuesday, 13 May 2008
Buffett's Bond Insurer Sees Business "Skyrocket"

Buffett Backs Muni Bonds

Warren Buffett's new bond insurer has seen its business "skyrocket" since opening for business just five months ago. 

In a big-picture piece summarizing first quarter results, Dow Jones Newswires compares the early numbers from Berkshire Hathaway Assurance Corp. to the established, and struggling, bond insurers like MBIA [MBI  Loading...      ()   ], Ambac [ABK  Loading...      ()   ] and Security Capital Assurance [SCA  Loading...      ()   ].

DJ's conclusion: "The strong are getting stronger at the expense of the weak."  Armed with its new AAA ratings from S&P and Moody's, BHAC "reported the highest premiums of any bond insurer for the (first) quarter, at about $400 million." 

All of that is for backing muni bonds.  Buffett has said BHAC won't be going near the riskier subprime securities that led to problems for the more established players.

Current Berkshire price: [US;BRK.A  Loading...      ()   ]

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