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Stock Markets September 3, 2026 12:02 AM

Mitsubishi Corp. Shares Jump After Berkshire's Abel Signals Bigger Stakes in Japan's Trading Houses

Greg Abel frames deeper investments in five sogo shosha as long-term strategy and downplays impact of rising JGB yields

By Hana Yamamoto
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Mitsubishi Corp. shares climbed sharply after Berkshire Hathaway's new CEO, Greg Abel, signaled potential expansion of the U.S. firm's positions in Japan's five largest trading houses and said the stakes would be held for decades. Abel also told markets that higher Japanese government bond yields are not likely to undermine the trading houses' business models, a reassurance that removed a key macro concern and helped trigger broad gains across the sogo shosha sector.

Mitsubishi Corp. Shares Jump After Berkshire's Abel Signals Bigger Stakes in Japan's Trading Houses
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Key Points

  • Berkshire Hathaway's CEO Greg Abel said the firm may increase holdings in Japan's five largest trading houses and intends to hold those stakes for many decades, framing them as part of a long-term international strategy.
  • Abel told markets that the recent rise in Japanese government bond yields to multi-decade highs is not expected to pose a significant threat to the trading houses' business models, easing a major macro concern.
  • The remarks and the prospect of further Berkshire buying sparked broad gains across the sogo shosha complex - including Itochu, Mitsui, Sumitomo, Marubeni - with Mitsubishi leading the group rally.

Shares of Mitsubishi Corp. surged 5.4% to ¥5,122 on Thursday following remarks from Greg Abel, Berkshire Hathaway's newly installed chief executive, indicating that the U.S. investment group is weighing additional investments in Japan's five largest trading houses.

Abel, who assumed the role of CEO on January 1, 2026, made the comments in an interview with Nikkei and reiterated them during an appearance on CNBC. He said Berkshire intends to retain these stakes "for many decades," describing the positions as a central element of the company's long-term international approach rather than holdings carried over from prior leadership.

Markets reacted not only to the prospect of increased Berkshire buying but also to Abel's response to a pressing investor worry: a recent rise in Japanese government bond yields to multi-decade highs. Abel stated that the surge in yields is not expected to materially threaten the operating models of the trading houses, a view that removed a significant macro overhang for the sector.

The combination of that reassurance and the possibility of further buying by Berkshire prompted investors to accumulate shares across the sogo shosha complex. Itochu, Mitsui, Sumitomo, and Marubeni all advanced alongside Mitsubishi, with trading houses collectively among the largest gainers on the Topix index during the session.

Mitsubishi led the group move, reflecting its status as Berkshire's largest holding among the trading houses. Berkshire's stake in Mitsubishi stood at 10.8%, valued at $9.21 billion as of the end of 2025.

The positive momentum among the five trading houses helped keep the Nikkei 225 in positive territory on Thursday. Market participants cited both the prospect of continued Berkshire accumulation and the removal of the JGB-yield overhang as the main drivers behind the rally.

Market context and immediate effects

  • Berkshire’s potential to deepen positions has been interpreted as a durable, strategic commitment rather than a short-term allocation.
  • Abel’s public comments that higher JGB yields are unlikely to significantly impair trading-house business models eased a prominent macro concern.
  • The effect was broad-based within the trading-house group, lifting multiple names and supporting Japanese equity indices during the session.

Conclusion

Investors responded to a combination of strategic intent from a major international investor and explicit commentary aimed at removing a macro risk. That pairing produced a clear and swift rally in Mitsubishi and its peers, with Mitsubishi outpacing the group given its position as the largest Berkshire holding among the five trading houses.

Risks

  • Rising Japanese government bond yields remain a notable market development; while Abel said yields are not expected to significantly threaten trading-house models, yields are a macro factor that could influence investor sentiment across financial markets.
  • Further price momentum depends on continued investor confidence in Berkshire's commitment to increase or maintain its stakes; any change in Berkshire's strategy or communication could alter market reactions.
  • The rally was concentrated in the trading-house sector and a reversal of sector sentiment could weigh on Topix and Nikkei 225 performance given the group's influence on those indices.

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