Core Viewpoint - Despite nearing retirement, Buffett's ability to identify valuable investments remains strong, as evidenced by significant stock purchases in the second quarter by Berkshire Hathaway, particularly in UnitedHealth Group, which saw a notable pre-market surge [2][3]. Group 1: UnitedHealth Group - UnitedHealth's stock price surged over 12% in pre-market trading after Buffett's investment, following a period where the stock had dropped more than 50% over the past year, resulting in a market cap loss of nearly $270 billion [3][4]. - The company is under investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice for potential billing misconduct related to its Medicare Advantage plans, raising concerns about inflated risk scores for higher reimbursements [4]. - The recent murder of the former CEO of the insurance division, Brian Thompson, has led to public outcry regarding the U.S. healthcare system, compounding the company's challenges [5]. Group 2: Berkshire Hathaway's Investments - In the second quarter, Berkshire Hathaway acquired over 5 million shares of UnitedHealth, with a market value of approximately $1.57 billion at the end of the quarter [5]. - Other stocks purchased by Berkshire include Nucor Steel (over 6.6 million shares, $860 million), Lennar (over 7 million shares, $780 million), D.R. Horton (1.485 million shares, $190 million), Lamar Advertising (about 1.17 million shares, $140 million), and Allegion (780,000 shares, $110 million), totaling a market value of approximately $3.65 billion for these new positions [7]. - In addition to new purchases, Berkshire reduced its stake in Apple by 20 million shares (approximately 6.67%) while still maintaining it as the largest holding [9].

Core Viewpoint - Despite nearing retirement, Buffett's ability to identify valuable investments remains strong, as evidenced by his recent stock purchases, particularly in UnitedHealth Group, which has seen significant price movements following his investment [1][2]. Group 1: UnitedHealth Group - UnitedHealth Group's stock experienced a pre-market surge of over 12% following Buffett's investment, indicating strong market interest [2][4]. - The company has faced significant challenges, including a more than 50% decline in stock price over the past year, resulting in a market cap loss of nearly $270 billion [5]. - Ongoing investigations by the U.S. Department of Justice regarding billing practices for Medicare Advantage plans have raised concerns about the company's operations [7]. - Despite these issues, Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway acquired over 5 million shares of UnitedHealth in Q2, with a market value of approximately $1.57 billion at the end of the quarter [8]. Group 2: Other Stocks Acquired by Berkshire Hathaway - In addition to UnitedHealth, Berkshire Hathaway also made significant investments in six other stocks during Q2, including Nucor Steel, Lennar, D.R. Horton, Lamar Advertising, and Allegion, with a total market value of approximately $3.65 billion [11]. - Nucor Steel saw a purchase of over 6.6 million shares, valued at about $860 million, while Lennar had over 7 million shares bought, valued at approximately $780 million [11]. - Other stocks like D.R. Horton, Lamar Advertising, and Allegion also received substantial investments, indicating a diversified approach to new acquisitions [11]. Group 3: Changes in Existing Holdings - Berkshire Hathaway reduced its stake in Apple by 20 million shares, a decrease of about 6.67%, while still maintaining it as the largest holding [12]. - The company also reduced its holdings in U.S. Bank by 26.3 million shares, a decrease of approximately 4.17% [12]. - Additionally, Berkshire increased its positions in several sectors, including oil and beverage companies, reflecting a strategic adjustment in its investment portfolio [12].

Market Overview - US stock indices showed mixed performance with the Dow Jones up 0.65%, Nasdaq down 0.18%, and S&P 500 up 0.41% [1] - The VIX index decreased by 4.24% to 17.83, indicating reduced market volatility [1] - The US dollar index fell by 0.23% to 100.83, while the yield on the 10-year Treasury bond dropped by 2.399% to 4.435% [1] - Spot gold increased by 1.96% to $3239.58 per ounce, while Brent crude oil fell by 1.87% to $64.58 [1] Industry & Stocks - In the industry sector, all S&P 500 sectors except semiconductors, which fell by 0.64%, recorded gains, with utilities and consumer staples leading at 2.13% and 2.05% respectively [3] - Chinese concept stocks mostly declined, with KWEB down 2.64% and Alibaba down 7.87%, reporting Q4 revenue growth of only 7% year-on-year [3] - Major tech stocks saw mixed results, with Microsoft up 0.23% and Nvidia down 0.38%. Berkshire Hathaway significantly increased its Alibaba holdings by 21 times while reducing its Nvidia stake [4][10] Focus on Companies - UnitedHealth Group's stock dropped by 10.93% amid an investigation by the US Department of Justice into its billing practices, which the company claims it was unaware of [5][6] - Walmart reported Q1 revenue of $165.6 billion, slightly below expectations, but adjusted EPS exceeded forecasts at $0.61. The company anticipates a 3.5% to 4.5% increase in net sales for Q2 [8] - Berkshire Hathaway's Q1 report revealed significant sell-offs in bank stocks, maintaining its position in Apple, while increasing stakes in other sectors like beverages and oil [9] Trade and Tariff Developments - Japan is seeking to hold a third round of trade negotiations with the US next week, while the EU and US are accelerating trade talks, aiming for greater tariff reductions than those with the UK [7] - Following recent tariff adjustments, container shipping rates from China to the US have surged, with bookings increasing by nearly 300% [12][13]