The Globe and Mail reports in its Monday edition that Berkshire Hathaway has accelerated its stock repurchases, as new chief executive officer Greg Abel demonstrated a greater willingness than his predecessor Warren Buffett to put the conglomerate's enormous cash hoard to use. A Reuters dispatch to The Globe says Omaha, Neb., company also reported on Saturday lower third-quarter profit, with operating earnings down 6 per cent to $12.71-billion and net earnings down 28 per cent to $22.11-billion (all figures U.S.). These reflected declines in insurance businesses such as Geico, and lower gains on common stock investments. Berkshire said it repurchased $9.6-billion of its own stock between July and September and about $2-billion more in October, in addition to $4.8-billion earlier in the year. The quarter was the third since Mr. Abel, 64, became CEO. Mr. Buffett, 96, had difficulty finding things to buy toward the end of his 60 years at the helm. He remains chairman emeritus. Following the repurchases, Berkshire ended September with $356.9-billion of cash and equivalents, down from $380.2-billion six months earlier. Its biggest year for buybacks was 2021, when it repurchased $27-billion of stock.