Berkshire Hathaway Quarterly Profits Up 26 Percent Over Last Year

Warren Buffet's holding company

Billionaire Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Inc. said Friday after the markets closed that its second quarter profit climbed 46% from last year, helped by investment and derivative gains as well as strong performance of its non-insurance businesses.

The company's operating earnings for the quarter, which excludes investmentand derivative gains/losses, grew 5%.