SECURITIES

Warren Buffett Buys Shares in Sears: The billionaire investor purchased 2.2 million common shares of Chicago-based retailer Sears, Roebuck & Co. last year. The move was disclosed in a confidential Form 13F, released by the Securities and Exchange Commission. The documents also show that Buffett, who makes his investments through his Omaha-based insurance holding company Berkshire Hathaway Inc., had raised his stake in Dean Witter Discover & Co. to 2.8 million shares by March 31, 1995, from 1 million shares on Dec. 31, 1994. Money managers are required to report the contents of their portfolios each quarter. However, they can request that the document be kept confidential for at least one year. Since March 31, 1995, Sears stock has risen about 91%; it closed at $51.625 on Thursday. Dean Witter shares have jumped about 47% in that same time.