Buffett Health Scrape Illustrates Power -- or Myth -- of Message Boards

Blame it on the Internet.

With its stock in the midst of a sharp downturn and unsubstantiated rumors questioning the health of CEO and investing guru Warren Buffett, Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A Quote) made an unusual move Thursday: It issued a press release to deny the rumors.

While the denial isn't unusual in itself, it marks a sharp departure from standard operating procedure at Berkshire, the typically tight-lipped holding company for the stakes acquired by the Omaha, Neb., sage of long-term investing. And, depending on where you stand, the denial points either to the Internet's unique power to amplify these kinds of apparently baseless rumors, or to the desire among companies and investors to use the Net's wild reputation to wrap complicated issues up in tidy packages.

'100% False'

...