2009-03-09reuters.com

Wells Fargo & Co shares as much as 24.3 percent after the billionaire investor Warren Buffett said the fourth-largest U.S. bank will emerge "better than ever" from the nation's credit crisis.

...

"These are a couple of tough years for losses in the banking business, but you expect a couple tough years every now and then," Buffett said. "The earning power is going to be greater by far than it has ever been when you get all through with it. The only worry in that is the government will force you to sell shares at some terribly low price."

We think Buffett is in la-la land on this one. Wells was already in trouble before it swallowed up Wachovia; now it is, in our view, doomed. The only thing that can keep them alive is massive dilution of some form or another. (writer is short Wells, and plans to add to that position on this latest "Buffett Bump", having ridden profitably from $30 down to $10 on the last one).



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