Buffett to sing for China during New Year celebrations

Billionaire investor Warren Buffett will sing and play guitar on Chinese state television as part of the country’s new year celebrations.

State media announced today the 81-year-old has taped his performance in preparation for it to be aired on China's CCTV channel on 23 January.

"We all know that Buffett is good at investment, but few knew he also did well in singing," said Wang Pingjiu, a production executive for the broadcast, according to the Xinhua news agency.

Last year Buffett held a banquet with Bill Gates for Chinese billionaires in order to promote philanthropic interests; his business interests in China include Berkshire Hathaway's near 10% stake in Chinese electric car manufacturer BYD.

Most of the investor's biggest bets remain firmly centred on US companies, however: Buffett made headlines in 2011 with two such purchases, taking a $10bn stake in IBM and providing Bank of America with a $5bn cash injection in August.