Buffett says Japan quake presents buying opportunity
US billionaire investor Warren Buffett said on Monday that a massive natural disaster would not hamper the future of the Japanese economy and could prompt a new bout of stock buying. “I’m not looking at Japan’s economic future differently from 10 days ago… extraordinary events offer (a) buying opportunity,” he told reporters.
Buffett, the chairman of investment firm Berkshire Hathaway, was visiting South Korea to attend a ground-breaking ceremony for a local unit of Israel’s Iscar Metalworking Companies, 80 per cent owned by Berkshire Hathaway. Japan’s Nikkei index lost around 10 per cent in the week following the devastating March 11 quake and tsunami.
Buffett, however, urged against selling Japanese stock — markets were closed in Tokyo on Monday — and said Japan would recover relatively quickly, Yonhap news agency said. The disaster, which has left 8,649 people dead and 13,262 missing, could cost the Japanese economy up to $235 billion, the World Bank said Monday. Growth, however, should pick up in subsequent quarters “as reconstruction efforts, which could last five years, accelerate”, it said.
I would look to the “Oracle of Omaha” for inspiration and advice if anyone!
Warren Buffet is number one in our book!