Is Buffett getting margin calls?

Quote from Greg Richards:

If the counterparty were a former investment bank named, say, SilverGuy Socks, it might notice that although it had an accounting gain, it didn't have cash to show for it, because it was not due any collateral. It might ask its AAA rated counterparty if it would consider investing in, oh let's say, preferred stock with warrants as a sweetener so that it could get a cash injection.

Just musing.

LOL!!! you hit my funny bone with that. I wish everyone always spoke like that. That'd be my kind of world. :D
 
I'll tell you why Buffet didn't hedge his huge positions.

Too expensive. He's a value guy.

Of course, right now he wishes he'd paid up + a cherry on top.

No do overs Warry.


How much will a starving man pay for a Big Mac? A lot more than its 'worth'.
bigmac.jpg

$1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000.00
Bon apatite
 
Quote from CET:

It is my understanding that the expiration date on those puts is 10 or 15 years out, so I don't know why anyone is wasting time on this subject. I also don't believe he wrote puts on any stock that he was not glad to own more of. We shall see.

But once those put option contracts get in the money they can be excercised any time. Or is the euro method you can only excercise those contracts in the final month of expiration?
 
Quote from Greg Richards:

Sounds as if you are the one who is scared to death.

Th

Doesn't scare me. I wish he'd fold tomorrow. Because, it is obvious, the drunk hasn't hit bottom. Until he does, until he shakes the idiots in DC to their very roots, and it has to be, obviously, something of that magnitude. Until then, this rally a 'brewin' is only a pause in the suffering.
 
Quote from subban:

But once those put option contracts get in the money they can be excercised any time. Or is the euro method you can only excercise those contracts in the final month of expiration?

They are European-style binaries. They cannot be exercised at any time, only at expiration.
 
Quote from flytiger:

so he could look down Becky Quick's blouse. .

remember, i think last year, when she flew on his jet with him on a trip and she was in her jammies? it was kinda creepy. she kinda has that 'i'd blow him cause he's powerful (or to get the exclusive story)' look about her. can't blame the Buff for taking the bait- hell, i'd fuck her.

in fact, i'll go on record that i'll fuck Becky Quick in return for the exclusive story of how i imploded my account by 2/3 in 6 months by trading like a fucking idiot. PM me if you're game, Becky...

as to the options: i'd be really surprised if he takes questions like that. this is going to be a lovefest of admiration. i seriously doubt we'll actually see critical questions- except for the softball variety.
 
Quote from smilingsynic:

They are European-style binaries. They cannot be exercised at any time, only at expiration.

i take it the margin requirements still move with the value of the contract though, yes?
 
Quote from gangof4:

i take it the margin requirements still move with the value of the contract though, yes?

From going through this whole thread, it seems from buffet's prospectus there are no or little collateral requirments and no requirement to mark these to current market value.
 
So if everything falls to $ 0, they owe $ 37 billion. At the end of 2008, they owe $ 5 billion as per mark to mark.

However, they only had to put up 1% non callable.

If the market recovers before end of put, then they made a great bet. If the market is down around the same % as end of 2008, they do lose double the premium.

Personally, I like their 10% preferred stock deals better since assuming the company does not go bankrupt, they make back 100% of the cost by just receiving the dividend over 10 years.

Since he only needs to put down 1%, he could basically just write another $ 4.9 billion in puts right now to help pay off the possible loss assuming the market stays the same price or higher as of today when the puts expire.

He could have hedged his risk by buying 1 year out puts while writing the farther out puts or by buying gold.

Anyway. looks like he finally made a mistake, but not one that will blow up his entire company.
 
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