The US investor already owns 3 per cent of Swiss Re and its latest investment is pure Berkshire Hathaway. Though the US investor's portfolio has stakes in great all-American names in underwear (Fruit of the Loom), utilities, manufacturing and finance, its roots lie in insurance. This generates the premiums – Mr Buffett's famous “float” – used to fund his other investments. Last May, Mr Buffett toured Europe's family-run businesses in search of opportunities. Yet recent investments – $5bn in Goldman Sachs, $3bn in General Electric and now Swiss Re – suggest a continuing preference for businesses hit by the crisis but with strong franchises.
伴随着沃伦•巴菲特(Warren Buffett)的哈雷-戴维森(Harley-Davidson)摩托车的轰鸣，山岗又恢复了生机。在需要帮助的时刻，瑞士再保险(Swiss Re)没有求助于本国政府，而是向巴菲特旗下的伯克希尔哈撒韦公司(Berkshire Hathaway)求援。刚刚投资于美国摩托车制造商债券的巴菲特，又驱车前来营救瑞士再保险，为其注资30亿瑞士法郎。这对于公司股东而言，应该是一个好消息。然而，在上周四交易中，瑞士再保险股价暴跌29%，因该公司发布了2008年全年亏损10亿瑞士法郎的预警，这主要归因于其在结构性信贷违约互换产品上按市值计价的损失。该公司同时表示，可能增发20亿瑞士法郎的股票。尽管瑞士再保险仍拥有高于监管要求的资本金，但没有达到维持保险客户信心必须的AA级信贷评级所要求的资本金水平。伯克希尔哈撒韦公司因此现身。