Market Chatter: Berkshire Hathaway Considers Increasing Stakes in Japanese Trading Houses

05:00 AM EDT, 09/17/2026 (MT Newswires) -- Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A, BRK.B) is evaluating the possibility of expanding its investments in Japanese trading companies, Bloomberg News reported Thursday, citing Japan Foreign Trade Council Chairperson Masahiro Okafuji. The company plans to maintain its current 10% positions over the long term and could potentially raise them to 15%, the news outlet quoted Okafuji as saying. The investment firm values the strong market advantages of the trading houses, though pursuing broader collaborations might create conflicts of interest, Bloomberg reported, citing Okafuji. Berkshire Hathaway and the Japan Foreign Trade Council did not immediately respond to MT Newswires' requests for comment. (Market Chatter news is derived from conversations with market professionals globally. This information is believed to be from reliable sources but may include rumor and speculation. Accuracy is not guaranteed.)