India, Aug. 7 -- Warren Buffett has issued a blunt warning about the state of today's stock market, comparing it to "a church with a casino attached" in remarks made during Berkshire Hathaway's 2026 annual meeting, as the conglomerate continues sitting on a record cash pile rather than chasing rallying share prices.

Speaking to CNBC, Buffett criticised the growing culture of short-term speculation that he says has come to dominate financial markets, framing the divide between disciplined investing and outright gambling in stark terms. "The casino has gotten very attractive to people," Buffett said, according to the Motley Fool, adding, "that's not investing, it's not speculating, it's gambling." He was careful to draw a distinction betwe...