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Berkshire Hathaway is looking rugged | Saudi Aramco slipped | [TOGETHER WITH]( Hi {NAME}, here's what you need to know for August 8th in 3:14 minutes. 💥 In the world of finance, disruption is the name of the game. So join Robert Stammers for [Exploring Disruption In The Investment Industry]( on August 15th, and find out how fintech firms are shaking up everything you know about investing. [Get your free ticket]( Today's big stories - Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway posted some brawny-looking results - Here’s where private investors have been putting their hard-earned money – [Read Now]( - Saudi Aramco’s profit slid downhill last quarter Buff And Beefy [Buff And Beefy] What’s going on here? Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway [posted]( some strong results over the weekend. What does this mean? Given the breadth of its holdings, Berkshire’s results often act as a mirror of the US economy’s ups and downs. And this time around, it was a tale of two halves. On one hand, rising interest rates put a damper on its real estate businesses, and its railroad business hit a few bumps, with fewer consumer goods in transit and increased competition. But on the other hand, its insurance business raked in higher premiums and cut back on ad spending to offset that damage. The result: the firm’s highest-ever quarterly operating profit at over $10 billion. And when you factor in gains from its colossal $350 billion stock portfolio, overall profit clocked in at a whopping $36 billion. Why should I care? The bigger picture: Cash to splash. Berkshire’s got a true first-world problem on its hands: lots of cash and little to spend it on. After all, market valuations are sitting pretty high these days, which has left the bargain-hunting Buffett without many attractive acquisition targets. In fact, Berkshire sold $8 billion more in stocks than it bought last quarter, leaving the firm with a whopping $147 billion in cash and short-term investments – just a hair’s breadth away from its all-time record of $149 billion. Mind you, with interest rates so high, that pile of cash isn’t just gathering dust: most of it’s invested in US Treasury bonds, which Buffett reckons could rake in $5 billion a year. For you personally: Watch and learn. There are a few nuggets of wisdom on offer here. First, Berkshire’s steady performance amid market turbulence underscores the importance of diversification. Second, Buffett’s cautious stance is a potential reminder to tread carefully amid the recent stock rally. And finally, if you’re sitting on cash, then don’t miss out on the high interest rates currently on offer. You might also like: [Buffett didn’t simply buy big in Japan: he left a trail of investing ideas for you.]( Copy to share story: [/buff-and-beefy]( 🙋 [Ask a question](mailto:questions@finimize.com?body=Ask us a question: Where are you writing from? Let us know and we'll mention it when we reply.&noapp=true&subject=Buff And Beefy&utm_campaign=daily-global-08-08-2023&utm_source=email) Analyst Take The Most-Bought Investments In July [The Most-Bought Investments In July]( [interactive investor]( is the second-biggest platform for private investors in the UK. So, month after month, it sees where individuals are trusting their [hard-earned money](. In July, it saw a renewed [sense of optimism](, with company earnings delivering more pleasant surprises than gloomy ones. That’s today’s Insight: [Richard Hunter, interactive investor’s head of markets, details the most-bought investments on the platform in July.]( [Read or listen to the Insight here]( SPONSORED BY CFA INSTITUTE Get a leg-up on the corporate ladder If you want to excel at your current job, start a fresh investing-industry career, or find out how to make better financial decisions, you can skill up with [the Investment Foundations Certificate from CFA Institute](. You’ll build your understanding of the investment industry with [online courses and real-life case studies](, setting you up to nail that interview and [develop critical thinking and awareness skills](. You can make sure the world recognizes your skills too: pass the final assessment, and you can showcase the [Investment Foundations Certificate and digital badge]( on your resume. Psst: While [signing up for Investment Foundations Certificate](, you can get the [$339 “DeFi: Introduction to Blockchain and Cryptocurrency Course”]( for free. Just [add both courses to your basket]( and use the code [FINIMIZEDEFI2023]( at checkout, and you’ll get the $689 bundle for just $350. [Find Out More]( When you support our sponsors, you support us. Thanks for that. Slippery When Wet [Slippery When Wet] What’s going on here? Oil titan Saudi Aramco saw profit [slipping]( and sliding last quarter. What does this mean? Oil companies have been having a tough time of it this earnings season, and the world’s biggest oil and gas company was no different. See, OPEC+ – a group of oil-producing nations – has been trying to limit supply and bolster prices since late last year, but with the specter of a global slowdown looming, there was only so much it could do. In fact, the average price of a barrel took a 32% tumble versus the same period last year, so it was no surprise when Aramco’s profit slid by 38%, to just over $30 billion. But it wasn’t all bad news: that number was still ahead of expectations, and the firm upped payouts by a decent chunk to keep investors onside. And that – surprise, surprise – meant shares rose after the news. Why should I care? The bigger picture: Fueling a nation. To truly grasp the scale of Aramco, consider this: that $30 billion profit was still more than the combined earnings of Shell, BP, Exxon, Chevron, and TotalEnergies last quarter. Such heft is necessary when you’re the backbone of a nation. After all, the Saudi Arabian government is the firm’s biggest shareholder, and those payouts are essentially a lifeline to the pretty [pinched]( state coffers. So Aramco boosting its payouts isn’t just about keeping investors happy. It’s a calculated strategy to bolster the nation’s ongoing diversification away from oil, including ventures into mining metals essential to the decarbonization movement. Zooming out: They’ve got chemistry. China is Aramco's biggest oil customer, and the Saudi titan is expecting the world's second-biggest economy to continue to up its demand this year. But Aramco isn’t just thinking about the slippery elixir: the company confirmed it’s planning to build on its [investments]( in the country's fast-growing chemicals sector too, further expanding its footprint there. You might also like: [Investing in the oil and gas industry in good times and bad.]( Copy to share story: [/slippery-when-wet]( 🙋 [Ask a question](mailto:questions@finimize.com?body=Ask us a question: Where are you writing from? Let us know and we'll mention it when we reply.&noapp=true&subject=Slippery When Wet&utm_campaign=daily-global-08-08-2023&utm_source=email) 🪧 Forget the billboards Old-school tactics won't engage [modern investors](. Capturing the attention of clued-in whippersnappers takes something a little [more up-to-date]( – like a [promotional partnership]( with Finimize. [Book A Demo]( 💬 Quote of the day "The man who smiles when things go wrong has thought of someone to blame it on." – Robert Bloch (an American fiction writer) [Tweet this]( Give your customers something to shout about Our [jargon-free Insights]( are a real timesaver for investors, if we say so ourselves. So if you want to delight your existing customers, [throwing in some fresh Finimize content]( surely can’t hurt – in fact, it could [add some extra oomph]( to your (already lovely) offerings. Our [Finimize API]( will seamlessly integrate [fresh, daily text and audio content]( into your own product – no matter where in the world you are. Think of it as giving your regulars a little pot of gold every day. The difference is that this pot can make you a smarter investor by summarizing financial news in [quick, witty, jargon-free blasts](. Give your customers that little bit extra: [check out the Finimize API](. [Find Out More]( 🎯 On Our Radar 1. A world of words. Check out the [most beautiful libraries]( around the globe. 2. Now that’s an easy option. [This podcast]( demystifies the concept of options trading into an easy-to-follow walkthrough.* 3. China's tourism troubles. The lack of tourists is another [problem for China's economy](. 4. Startup – or wind down. Venture-backed startups are [failing at record rates](. 5. Tech titan tussle. The showdown between Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg will be [streamed on X](. When you support our sponsors, you support us. Thanks for that. 🌍 Finimize Live 🥳 Coming Up This Week... All events in UK time. 🏠[Why Real Estate Could Be A Solid Investment Right Now](: 1pm, August 9th And After That... 📍 [Exploring Disruption In The Investment Industry](: 5pm, August 15th 🌎 [How To Invest Like Warren Buffett](: 1pm, August 22nd 🚀 [Building Investment Platforms For The Modern Era](: 5pm, August 23rd 🎉 [Modern Investor Summit 2023](: 12pm, December 5th and 6th ❤️ Share with a friend Thanks for reading {NAME}. If you liked today's brief, we'd love for you to share it with a friend. You stay classy, {NAME} 😉 We’d love to hear your thoughts. [Give feedback]( Want to advertise with us too? 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