How Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Can Navigate Economic Turmoil

Markets are closed today but the Opening Bell newsletter rings nonetheless. Phil Rosen here — good to see you. 

The main thing to watch today is the March jobs report, which is due at 8:30 a.m. ET. 

When markets are open, stocks often move in reaction to the report, but this time around the reaction will have to wait until Monday.

For our day off, we have a shorter edition for you. First, let’s check in with Warren Buffett. 

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1. Few people would argue with you if you said Warren Buffett is the greatest investor of all time. Fewer still would challenge anyone who claimed Berkshire Hathaway was one of the most resilient companies of all time.

But like other giant conglomerates, Berkshire this year faces a painful mix of stubborn inflation, climbing interest rates, a looming recession, and potential credit crunch. 

The company’s portfolio includes a range of businesses from Geico and Duracell to the BNSF Railway. 

Experts told my colleague Theron Mohamed, our in-house Buffett expert, how the empire’s ample cash reserves, strong brands, and prudent management will enable it to comfortably navigate the uncertainty. 

They anticipate the billionaire to once again “be greedy when others are fearful,” as he did during the pandemic.

Read how 8 experts think Berkshire could be poised to capitalize on the chaos.

Is there any other company or conglomerate better poised to navigate uncertainty than Berkshire Hathaway? Tweet me (@philrosenn) or email me (prosen@insider.com) to let me know.

In other news:

2. One of the minds behind a $7.6 billion ETF broke down the five-part approach the fund uses to pick names. Investors looking for long-term gains should focus on companies with one of these particular competitive advantages, including switching costs and network effects. Here’s what to know — and 10 stocks that fit the bill right now.

3. Top BMO strategist Brian Belski said the market is flashing disinflation signals, which suggests the Fed will ease policy soon. Any rate cuts would be fuel for stocks — and he’s anticipating equities to rally in the second half of the year.

4. Apple has apparently hidden a bitcoin manifesto in every Mac since 2018. That’s what one tech blogger said Wednesday when he found a PDF file of Satoshi Nakamoto’s bitcoin white paper stored on his computer. He said his fellow Mac users had the same document on their computers. Here’s how you can find the strange file on yours, too.

5. Eurizon analysts forecast that the US dollar could weaken another 15% over the next 18 months. As inflation continues to cool, the central bank could slash rates this year, which ultimately would cause the currency to depreciate, Stephen Jen, the inventor of the Dollar Smile theory, wrote this week. Get the full details.

6. Rob Arnott pioneered a stock investing technique that exploded into a trillion-dollar industry. He just presented a new approach to help everyday investors beat the market, even in a crisis. Read through the strategy now — and why he sees a problem with index investing.

Curated by Phil Rosen in New York. Feedback or tips? Tweet @philrosenn or email prosen@insider.com.

Edited by Max Adams (@maxradams) in New York.