SmartMoney.com associate editor Jack Hough says now is a good time to pick up Buffett-favored stocks on the cheap.

When Pfizer Inc. (PFE) unveiled a $68 billion buyout offer for U.S. rival Wyeth (WYE) last week, it sparked hopes that the deal might re-ignite the moribund merger market. But when the Wall Street dealmakers take a closer look, those flames will likely be doused in cold water.

Investing icon Warren Buffett took his own advice Tuesday – getting “greedy when others are fearful” – when he ignored the banking-sector bonfire and slapped down a cool $5 billion for a stake in Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (GS). By literally putting his money where his mouth is, Buffett’s actions – and reputation as a shrewd bargain hunter – restored some of Goldman’s luster and helped bolster investor confidence in the U.S. banking system.

With the stock market in turmoil, it’s a good time to check in on what Warren Buffett is doing with his portfolio. Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (NYSE:BRK.A, BRK.B) has struggled in the first half of the year. Money Morning’s Jason Simpkins says $3.5 billion of Berkshire’s recent $4-billion shopping spree is still unaccounted for…

A merger that would have united the two largest U.S. independent power producers has hit a roadblock.

Princeton, NJ- based NRG Energy Inc. (NRG) has publicly acknowledged its estimated $11.3 billion takeover bid for Calpine Corp. (CPN) – a wholesale provider of electricity emerging from chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.