May 2009
May 30, 2009 –
|
RELATED TICKERS: BYDDY
Video of BYD’s e6 Pure Electric Vehicle By Ravi Nagarajan
Published on May 30, 2009 at 4:02 pm
The interest in this site’s coverage of BYD’s e6 Pure Electric Vehicle has been very strong. I initially looked into BYD after Berkshire Hathaway announced an investment in the company. Although I have been skeptical of hybrids and electric vehicles for a long time, I think that the statistics associated with the e6 almost guarantee that electric vehicles will have a place in the American car market over the next decade. [more]
May 27, 2009 –
Can Traditional Print Newspapers Survive “Creative Destruction”?
By Ravi Nagarajan
Published on May 27, 2009 at 10:59 pm [more]
May 22, 2009 –
|
RELATED TICKERS: BRK-A
, BRK-B
A.M. Best Reaffirms Ratings of National Indemnity Group By Ravi Nagarajan
Published on May 22, 2009 at 10:53 pm
A.M. Best has reaffirmed the financial strength rating of A++ (Superior) and the issuer default rating of AAA for National Indemnity Group and its subsidiaries. National Indemnity is a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway. The outlook for all the ratings is stable. The affirmation of the ratings was made despite a significant reduction in statutory surplus at the end of 2008 due to the demonstrated track record of the company over several years along with the strength of the management team. Let’s take a look at a few selected excerpts from the ratings announcement. [more]
May 22, 2009 –
New Jersey’s Pension Crisis: A Canary in the Coalmine? By Ravi Nagarajan
Published on May 22, 2009 at 6:00 am
In the same way that drivers are compelled to slow down to observe the aftermath of pileups, I find myself fascinated by the slow motion destruction of state and local government finances due to chronic underfunding of pension systems. A toxic combination of gold plated benefits, skipped pension fund contributions, and fanciful investment return projections has resulted in a looming fiscal catastrophe which was evident even before the current recession. The combination of the recession and decades of irresponsible pension policy could easily result in Federal Government bailouts of states and municipalities, bankruptcies, and municipal bond defaults. [more]
May 20, 2009 –
|
RELATED TICKERS: BRK-A
, BRK-B
Selecting a Buffett Biography: Lowenstein vs. Schroeder By Ravi Nagarajan
Published on May 20, 2009 at 6:00 am
While there have been countless books written regarding Warren Buffett’s track record in business and investing, along with many books of variable quality seeking to find formulas to replicate his success, there are only two full fledged biographies that have been written: The Making of an American Capitalist by Roger Lowenstein and The Snowball by Alice Schroeder. [more]
May 18, 2009 –
Thoughts on Graham and Dodd’s Security Analysis: Sixth Edition By Ravi Nagarajan
Published on May 18, 2009 at 6:00 am
I was first introduced to the writings of Benjamin Graham shortly after graduating from college with a finance degree in 1995. I picked up a copy of The Intelligent Investor and found the investment philosophy very compelling and in stark contrast to most of the books I read as part of my finance coursework. [more]
May 14, 2009 –
|
RELATED TICKERS: BYDDY
Better Place Unveils Automated Battery Exchange Technology By Ravi Nagarajan
Published on May 14, 2009 at 11:15 am
The Wall Street Journal reports that Better Place Inc. has demonstrated its battery exchange technology for the first time in Yokohama, Japan. The company has posted a video demonstration of the process in which a specially designed electric car has a depleted battery exchanged for a recharged battery in under a minute. Here are two interviews with Better Place founder Shai Agassi explaining the technology and vision for his company: [more]
May 13, 2009 –
Stanford Lawyer Interviews Charlie Munger By Ravi Nagarajan
Published on May 13, 2009 at 12:50 pm
The Spring 2009 issue of Stanford Lawyer contains an interview with Berkshire Hathaway Vice Chairman Charlie Munger. A streaming video has also been provided. Munger is a longtime donor to Stanford University, most recently funding new graduate school residences, and has often made himself available to the law school community. Let’s take a look at a few excerpts from the interview: [more]
May 12, 2009 –
|
RELATED TICKERS: BRK-A
, BRK-B
Fractional Aircraft Sales Face Economic and Political Headwinds By Ravi Nagarajan
Published on May 12, 2009 at 10:35 am
In today’s economic and political climate, few businesses seem less attractive than fractional aviation. Companies are under constant pressure to cut costs particularly in areas that could be perceived as frivolous executive benefits during a deep recession. Executives everywhere have noted the political criticism facing those who would dare to fly on corporate aircraft to Congressional hearings. Who in their right mind would purchase a corporate jet or even a fractional share in this environment? [more]
May 11, 2009 –
I'm working on expanding my series of book reviews. Buffett and Munger recommend reading as much as possible to develop a "latticework of mental models". In that spirit, I've created the following page on my site to consolidate the book reviews that I've written as well as to list the books that have been features at Berkshire Hathaway shareholder meetings. [more]
May 08, 2009 –
|
RELATED TICKERS: BYDDY
CNN has a series of interviews with Wang Chuanfu of BYD. [more]
RSS Headlines
Fool UK