Buffett sends "stern message" to stock market investors: Reaffirming the long-term investment philosophy of "be greedy when others are fearful," and pointing out the current high speculative sentiment in the market.

Yahoo Finance cited Warren Buffett's view that despite the S&P 500, Dow Jones Industrial Average, and Nasdaq Composite repeatedly hitting new highs in 2026, returns have stagnated in the single digits since May. Market volatility has been driven by tech stock fluctuations, rising interest rate expectations, increasing oil prices, and escalating tensions in the Middle East. Buffett reiterated his advice from the 2008 financial crisis to "buy American," arguing that bad news is the best time for investors to buy into the country's future at a discount. He noted that Berkshire Hathaway held approximately $373 billion in cash and U.S. Treasury bills earlier this year, stating, "If there's a big decline, we'll deploy capital." Buffett likened the current market to a "church with a casino attached," citing the boom in short-term options trading as an example of heightened speculative sentiment. He emphasized that the best buying opportunities arise when the market collapses and no one is answering calls, and cautioned investors against selling during market panic, as history shows that long-term investing often outperforms market timing.