Berkshire B (BRK-B) Shares Open Strong Today, Trading Up about 5%

Today, Berkshire Hathaway Class B shares (NYSE: BRK-B) began trading after the 50-for-1 split, which shareholders approved yesterday.

The shares are trading up today, about 4.86% to $72.88, after opening at $71.13. The shares were previously trading at about $3400 per share, so the new price definitely allows more investors to get a taste of "the good life" at Berkshire, once only a dream.

Class B shares were created in 1996 as a more "affordable" option to the companys ultra-exclusive Class A shares, which currently trade at $109,180. Volume on the Class A shares is down today as well, trading approximately 976 shares compared to the three-month average of 122,963.

Volume on the new class B shares is about 3.9 million shares.

The split was proposed after the acquisition of Burlington Northern (NYSE: BNI) was announced in November 2009. The deal would allow shareholders of Burlington to receive their purchase payments in stock.

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