Berkshire Hires Banks for Yen Bond Offering in Volatile Market

Berkshire Hathaway Inc. has hired banks for its first yen bond sale since November, triggering speculation about its investment plans in Japan.

The US insurer mandated Mizuho Securities Co. and BofA Securities Inc. for a potential benchmark yen bond sale that’s expected to emerge in the near future subject to market conditions, according to an email Thursday from Mizuho. The planned debt issuance comes as Japan’s central bank looks set to raise interest rates further to try to tame lingering inflation.