(The following are excerpts from the past week’s Bloomberg News columns. For full text of any column, click on the command below the writer’s name. Opinions are those of the columnists.)

Credit:
Opportunity at Toyota; Rare Sense at SEC: Commentary Review

LONDON (Reuters) – Prudential , Britain’s largest insurer, is in talks to buy the Asian operations of bailed-out insurance giant AIG in what would be one of the largest ever overseas deals by a UK firm, Sky News reported.

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Britain’s Prudential in talks to buy AIA: report

Berkshire Hathaway Inc. delivered a fourth-quarter profit more than 25 times higher than the previous year thanks largely to an unrealized $1 billion gain on derivative contracts and investments. Warren Buffett’s company said Saturday that its insurance and…

BerkshireHathaway – Warren Buffett – Insurance – Berkshire – United States

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Paper gains drive Berkshire’s profit skyward

ATHENS (Reuters) – Germany and France have agreed to help Greece sell bonds in return for stronger efforts by Athens to slash its budget deficit, Greek newspaper Ta Nea reported on Saturday, citing unnamed sources.

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France, Germany to help Greece raise money: report

Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Inc. said fourth-quarter profit jumped on improved investment results and the recovery of derivative bets tied to the world’s stock markets.

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Buffett’s Berkshire Profit Jumps on Improved Investment Results

Tsunami warnings have been issued across the Pacific Ocean after an 8.8-magnitude earthquake struck Chile, where President Michele Bachelet declared a “state of catastrophe.”

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Chile Hit by Magnitude-8.8 Quake; Many Reported Dead

Tsunami warnings have been issued across the Pacific Ocean after an 8.8-magnitude earthquake struck Chile, where President Michele Bachelet declared a “state of catastrophe.”

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Chile Hit by Magnitude-8.8 Quake; Many Reported Dead (Update1)

RIYADH (Reuters) – Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, a prominent Saudi investor in Citigroup , reiterated on Saturday his support the bank’s management led by Chief Executive Vikram Pandit.

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Saudi Alwaleed reiterates support to Citi’s Pandit

The former head of the U.N. nuclear watchdog has warned that Egypt could face a popular uprising if the ruling system doesn’t respond to peaceful appeals for change. Mohammed ElBaradei told The Associated Press Saturday that he wants to create a peaceful…

Egypt – Mohamed ElBaradei – United Nations – Hosni Mubarak – Africa

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Ex-UN nuclear chief: Egypt is desperate for change

India’s pledge to enact the biggest budget-deficit reduction in 19 years may offer the central bank more scope to rein in inflation without choking off lending growth.

Originally posted here:
India Budget Offers Central Bank Scope to Raise Rates (Update1)

Chile was rocked by a magnitude 8.8 earthquake centered 200 miles (317 kilometers) southwest of Santiago near the main winemaking region. Dozens of people were killed and tsunami warnings were issued across the Pacific.

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Chile Rocked by Magnitude 8.8 Earthquake; Dozens Reported Dead

China’s premier says 2010 will be the most complicated year for the country’s economy, and he promises the government will fight inflation and soaring property prices. Premier Wen Jiabao answered questions in a rare online chat Saturday with citizens worried…

China – Wen Jiabao – Inflation – Government – Asia

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China premier: 2010 ‘most complicated’ for economy

Chile was rocked by a magnitude 8.8 earthquake centered 197 miles (317 kilometers) southwest of Santiago. A tsunami warning has been issued across the Pacific.

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Magnitude 8.8 Quake Hits Chile, Tsunami Alert Issued (Update5)

Utility crews pushed through deep drifting snow, fallen trees and downed power lines Saturday to restore electricity to more than a million homes and businesses that lost power a day earlier as a slow-moving winter storm pounded the Northeast with heavy snow,…

Snow – Wind – Northeastern United States – Weather – Kids and Teens

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Utility crews struggling to restore power in NE

China Premier Wen Jiabao said he’s “confident” he can manage the nation’s soaring property market and keep home prices at a reasonable level during his tenure.

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China Premier Wen ‘Confident’ on Property Prices (Update2)