Madoff crony

The SEC charged David Kugel, an employee of Bernie Madoff for nearly four decades, with fraud and helping to facilitate the investor’s $50 billion Ponzi scheme. The SEC alleges that Kugel withdrew nearly $10 million from fictitious trading over several years.

Buffett shops

Warren Buffett, who invested $23.9 billion for his Berkshire Hathaway in the third quarter, said the company could spend as much as $10 billion on its next acquisition.

Toy titan

Mattel, the world’s largest toymaker, said CEO Robert Eckert will retire at the end of the year and be replaced by current COO Bryan Stockton.

Rosy view

US economic growth may exceed 3 percent in the fourth quarter, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta President Dennis Lockhart said at an event in Brazil.

Cut-rate

Google will cut the price of some Chromebook laptops by as much as 30 percent, to $299, in a push to gain an edge against rivals such as Apple and Microsoft.