The four major hurricanes which hit the US have also hit the profits of Berkshire Hathaway, which reported a loss of $816m (£439m)in the third quarter.
The company, run by billionaire Warren Buffett, has also been forced to write off the cost of a failed mining project.
Buffett, the world's second-richest man, has increased the company's cash holdings from $31bn to $38bn in search of further acquisition opportunities.
