伯克希尔Q2回购45亿美元，现金降至3655亿

News when you want it with Bloomberg News now. I'm Ed Kalegi. Berkshire Hathaway released earnings Saturday, which showed the company spent about $4.5 billion to buy back its own shares in the second quarter, providing shareholders with the largest quarterly payout since 2021. Bloomberg's Matthew Paula Solar says operating earnings also surged 16% in the three months through June. They're over earnings, but I think, some of the gains are making more sustainable.

So I think he's looking at that a little bit better. Burlington Northern, the railroad he's got his eyes on that. He called them out at the annual meeting. He said they're going to improve their margins there. So I think the underlying earnings power of those businesses are improving. They have tons of cash. So I think he's putting some of it to work. Bloomberg's Matthew Paula Zola the firm's cash pile fell to $365.5 billion in the second quarter as its net purchases of equities reached nearly $20 billion.

In an interview with Fox News, Vice President J.D. Vance says that the U.S. is currently in the middle of the game regarding the conflict with Iran, noting that some progress has been made in recent talks. Right now, we're trying to see if they're willing to make the kind of long term changes that would be necessary to have a better relationship with the United States. And if not, that's fine too. We're just going to keep on applying the pressure that we can apply and getting as much oil and gas out of the Middle East so that Americans can enjoy lower gas and energy prices.

Vice president J.D. Vance Iran says it's very close to a deal with Oman on a new maritime transit route in the Strait of Hormuz. After our expectations grew this week that an announcement may soon be made, Iran's Foreign Minister, Abbas Iraqi, said on Saturday that negotiators are closing in on a temporary maritime transit route for ships entering and exiting the Persian Gulf. He cautioned that any agreement won't result in an immediate reopening of the strait, signaling that any respite for energy supplies may be limited.

Oman said separately, in a post on text that negotiations are progressing in a positive and constructive atmosphere. The U.S. Senate confirmed Todd Blanche’s attorney general, elevating President Trump's one time personal defense lawyer to lead the nation's top federal law enforcement agency. Republicans closed ranks and supported Blanch in a 50 to 49 vote, even after two GOP senators joined Democrats in opposition. Republican Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, one of the holdouts, came out in support of Blanche after Senator Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa murkowski of Alaska voted against him.

Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll says the U.S. Army is aiming to make it easier for defense firms to get access to military test ranges to experiment with critical weapons technology in the latest effort to shake up Pentagon procurements and replenish stockpiles drained by the war against Iran. Secretary Driscoll spoke with Bloomberg Television's Tyler Kendall. When we slow things down in the innovation loop by 12 or 18 months at a time, that is just bad for soldiers, it's bad for taxpayers, and it's bad for companies.

And so what we're announcing today is basically a new front door to access all of the U.S. Army's or many of the U.S. Army's ranges. We're layering in international partners. We're going to give concierge access, and we are going to aspire to get these companies onto our range within 30 days. Every single time. Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll. According to a U.S. official, Ukraine has agreed not to target some non-Russian oil tankers and Black Sea infrastructure critical for exporting Kazakhstan's crude.

After strikes and vessels last month halted loadings. Ukraine has set up points of contact to allow commercial shippers to communicate information and ensure safe passage. The commitment, which stemmed from July 31st talks between senior U.S. government leaders and Ukrainian leadership, marks a potentially significant step in increasing oil flows in the region. Space is coming off a massive two day winning streak, getting back close to its IPO price.

More on this from Bloomberg's Charlie Pellett. Shares surged 15.8%, putting Space-x at one 3311, just below last month's IPO price of 1.35. The rally wipes away weeks of losses and adds over 300 billion in market value. What makes this rally surprising is the timing. A major restriction was lifted Thursday, allowing early insiders to finally sell their shares. Analysts originally warned that the flood of stock would crush the price.

In New York, Charlie Pellett, Bloomberg Radio. The Environmental Protection Agency is directing local water systems to sources of funding for cybersecurity updates, even though the EPA has been looking to cut those funds. Bloomberg's Amy Morris reports from Washington. Cyber attackers have hit drinking water or wastewater systems in at least seven states. The EPA is urging states to use its drinking water and clean water.

State revolving funds for cybersecurity upgrades that can pay to upgrade outdated computers and software, create network backups, and install monitoring systems. But at the same time, the EPA is proposing to slash funding for those programs by more than 85%, saying that states should be responsible for their own water systems. In Washington, Amy Morris, Bloomberg Radio. That's news when you want it with Bloomberg News now.

I'm Ed Kalegi. This is Bloomberg.