Warren Buffett conceded that his holding company, Berkshire Hathaway, turned in its worst performance on record as the financial crisis drew the world’s economy into a deepening recession, and gave investors little reason to believe a turnround was imminent.

In his annual letter to Berkshire shareholders, Mr Buffett recounted how frozen credit markets dovetailed with tumbling home and stock prices to imperil many banks and produce “a paralysing fear that engulfed the country”.