Legendary investor Warren Buffett's magic helped a group of Japanese stocks weather a broad market decline on Tuesday. Shares of five Japanese trading houses were on a tear after Buffett wrote in Berkshire Hathaway's annual shareholder letter on Saturday that it would increase its investment in the companies.

Japanese trading-house stocks rose sharply after Warren Buffett said Berkshire Hathaway’s stakes in them would likely increase somewhat over time.

Shares in Japan's five major trading houses rose more than 5% in early trade on Tuesday after billionaire investor Warren Buffett said his conglomerate Berkshire Hathaway would likely increase its ownership in them.