Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway said first-half revenues fell 39% at Squishmallows' parent company and 12% at Fruit of the Loom as tariffs loomed.

Berkshire said it had slashed the carrying value of its 27.4 per cent stake in Kraft Heinz to $8.4bn, from $13.5bn at the end of the first quarter, a roughly $5bn impairment. It noted the hit reduced its total earnings after taxes by $3.8bn, according to the quarterly statement.