Warren Buffett has his elephant gun loaded again and may be getting ready to shoot. Charter Communications recently got an increased investment from Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway. The latest government filing also signaled Berkshire may be planning another large investment. (Reuters)

 

Strength in the U.S. dollar continues to weigh on dividend payouts, which fell around the world for a third consecutive quarter.  Currency movements deducted 12% from the growth rate in dividends. This amounted to some $52.2 billion—the largest quarterly exchange rate effect on dividends ever recorded. On average, dividends fell by 6.7% to around $405 billion in the second quarter. (Henderson Global Investors)

 

Lots of action in the oil patch. KKR-owned Samson Resources is announcing plans to file for bankruptcy, and hand control of the oil and gas producer to creditors. Samson, like many of its rivals, has been hurt by the extended period of low crude prices. (CNBC)

 

Williams Companies is the target of a bid by smaller oil and natural gas pipeline company Spectra Energy. Williams put itself up for sale in June after rejecting a buyout bid from Energy Transfer Equity. (CNBC)