Buffett Boosts Stocks with Bond Offer

(NewsVisual, powered by IntellectSpace )-- An offer to help bond insurers from Warren Buffett, on the heels of better-than-expected earnings of General Motors Corp (NYSE: GM), sent shares rising on Tuesday morning.

The details of billionaire investor Warren Buffett’s proposition included offering troubled bond insurers up to $800 million in municipal bonds as an additional level of insurance. 

This proved to be a second round of good news for investors, after GM announced that its Q4 results exceeded expectations. Analysts had predicted greater losses for the auto company, through in reality revenue was up $3 billion. In light of the news, Buffett’s offer was certainly the icing on the cake.

NewsVisual created an IntellectSpace Knowledge Map that visually illustrates Buffett’s plethora of connections. With the ability to almost single-handedly send stocks rising, it’s likely that an analysis of his corporate relationships will shed some light into one of Wall Street’s most prominent characters.

Buffett has clearly had his hand in numerous companies and industries, as shown in this IntellectSpace Knowledge Map. He has served as a Director of multiple companies, including Coca-Cola, railroad company Burlington Northern Santa Fe, US Airways and The Washington Post. Some of his strongest relationships are held with notable financial institutions, such as Citigroup, Berkshire Hathaway and Capital Cities. Buffett is even active in leading non-corporate organizations in Chair or Trustee roles, at entities that include the Urban Institute, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the Business Enterprise Trust.

Given such a network, it’s hardly surprising that Buffett now unofficially holds the top spot in the investing world and as an individual is such a strong force in today’s markets.

Readers, what do you think the motivations are behind Buffett’s generous offer?

Click here or copy this link into your Internet Explorer browser for an interactive version of this IntellectSpace Knowledge Map: http://nv.intellectspace.com/ispace/GuestMonitor.aspx?id=1ef96609-4aa8-4a8a-91d3-79d59627ae9d

See article from The Wall Street Journal (subscription required)