Jason Simpkins of Money Morning gives us a look of what stocks Warren Buffett is buying into this year. He says that “Buffett didn’t fare much better than anybody else in 2008. But the Oracle of Omaha remains optimistic, convinced that investors who brave today’s fierce financial tempest will be rewarded in the long run.”

MasterCard Posts 4Q Profit; Buffet’s Berkshire Investing in Swiss Re; Rogers Staying Out of Russia; Ford in Volvo Talks with Geely Auto; Louis Vuitton Misses on Earnings; Brown Refuses to Ban Bonuses; Mortgage Rates Jump; Retail Trade Group Wants Tax Holidays

Consumer sentiment improved for the second consecutive month, as lower commodities prices picked the index of consumer confidence up from a 28-year low. But consumers are still in recession mode, according to a report by Jennifer Yousfi on Money Morning…