Buffet's Berkshire Hathaway posts $50 bn loss in coronavirus impact

An accounting rule requires Berkshire to report unrealized stock losses and gains with earnings. This causes huge swings in Berkshire's net results that Buffett considers meaningless

Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Inc is being hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic, posting a record quarterly net loss of nearly $50 billion on Saturday and saying performance is suffering in several major operating businesses.

Berkshire said most of its more than 90 businesses have faced "relatively minor to severe" negative effects from Covid-19, the illness caused by the novel coronavirus, with revenue slowing considerably in April even at businesses deemed "essential."

The BNSF railroad saw shipping volumes fall, Geico set aside money for car insurance premiums it doesn't expect to collect, and some businesses cut wages and furloughed workers.