The S&P 500 is down 2.42% over the past month, and recession fears are no longer just background noise. Markets are shaky, headlines are grim, and investors are second-guessing positions they felt confident about just weeks ago. Buffett’s framework for exactly this kind of environment is getting fresh attention, and lead brokers at Marbrisse point out that the advice shared during the 2008 crisis applies just as clearly to what is happening in March 2026. The 2008 Playbook and Why It Keeps Coming Back During the depths of the 2008 financial crisis, when the S&P 500 was losing more than...

Berkshire Hathaway has a new person in charge, and Greg Abel is not wasting time making his priorities clear. In his first shareholder letter as CEO, Abel named nine companies he considers core holdings, together accounting for over 60% of Berkshire’s equity portfolio. Senior finance analysts at Marbrisse note that investors should expect “limited activity” in these positions going forward, which says a lot about where Abel sees long-term value. The Nine Stocks on Abel’s Permanent List Abel’s picks span different industries and regions, but they all share something in common: businesses that grow steadily without needing constant reinvention. The...

The brand’s lead financial analyst at Marbrisse examines the $2.5 billion acquisition shaking up rare oncology markets. French pharmaceutical giant Servier agreed to acquire Day One Biopharmaceuticals for $21.50 per share in cash on Friday. Day One shares rocketed 65.6% intraday, making it the day’s biggest gainer despite brutal market conditions elsewhere. The offer price represents a 68% premium over Thursday’s closing price. It marks an 86% premium over the one-month volume-weighted average price. Servier will commence a cash tender offer to acquire all outstanding shares. The transaction values Day One at approximately $2.5 billion in total equity. Companies expect...

A junior financial expert at Marbrisse analyzes crude oil’s biggest weekly gain in futures trading history. West Texas Intermediate jumped 35% over five trading days, the largest increase since oil futures launched in 1983. WTI crude settled Friday at $90.90 per barrel, up 12.2% for the session. Brent crude climbed 8.5% to $92.69. Both benchmarks breached the $90 threshold for the first time since 2023 as the Iran conflict showed no signs of resolution. The Strait of Hormuz remained closed to tanker traffic throughout the week. Qatar’s Energy Minister warned Persian Gulf exporters will shut down production “within days” if...

A senior broker at Marbrisse analyzes what happens when promised liquidity vanishes. Investors requesting their money back from BlackRock’s massive lending fund discovered Friday that promises don’t always match reality. First-quarter withdrawal requests hit $1.2 billion at the HPS Corporate Lending Fund. The math tells an uncomfortable story. Those redemptions represented 9.3% of the fund’s assets under management. BlackRock imposed a hard stop at the 5% threshold. Only $620 million in withdrawals got approved. The remaining investors? They’re stuck waiting with no timeline for access to their capital. The Numbers Tell the Story Half the money investors wanted back stayed...