Berkshire Hathaway’s Operating Earnings Fall, Buybacks Rise

(Bloomberg) -- Berkshire Hathaway Inc.'s operating earnings fell to $12.7 billion in the third quarter, a 5.8% decline from a year earlier, the Omaha, Nebraska-based conglomerate said Saturday in a statement.

Berkshire continued to buy back its own shares, spending about $9.6 billion in the period, the most so far this year. Its cash pile rose from the previous quarter, totaling $377.4 billion at the end of September.