Will Buffett Step in to Keep Occidental Afloat?

Shares of Occidental Petroleum have dropped below $56, raising questions about whether Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway will step in as it has in the past. Berkshire Hathaway, Occidental's largest shareholder with nearly a 30% stake, has previously purchased millions of shares whenever Occidental's price dipped below $60, a pattern that analysts have dubbed "the Berkshire put." But this time, the absence of such purchases is raising eyebrows.For the past month, Occidental has traded under $60, the longest stretch since January, when a similar…