DealZone

AOL will buy The Huffington Post for $315 million, relying on the high-profile liberal pundit who co-founded the influential website to rescue it from the dustbin of Internet history.  The Wall Street Journal looks at the good and the bad of the deal. Felix Salmon asks if AOL is really the right parent for the unique and very valuable Huffington Post Media Group.

Danaher agreed to buy medical diagnostics company Beckman Coulter for $5.8 billion cash, moving further into its growing medical technology business.

Blackstone Group has taken a majority stake in San Diego’s historic Hotel del Coronado. The private equity firm has been active in buying U.S. commercial real estate such as hotels, retail property and warehouse space from distressed owners and others who need cash.

Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway will buy the 19.9 percent it does not own of Wesco Financial, in a deal worth about $547.6 million, the companies said.

It seemed only a bit odd that media star Arianna Huffington was the guest host on CNBC the day the all-important stress test results were due. Not to play down her credentials in media or commentary circles, but where were the celebrated bank analysts, the corporate chieftains and the investment gurus who so routinely enjoy a dose of the limelight on America’s Business Channel?

Wasn’t this the perfect day for a newsmaker rather than a news talker? The Huffington Post founder has been a good reality check on market cheerleaders who live on CNBC, but on Stress-Test Thursday, the less-than-casual viewer expects insiders with insight. It tasted like something strange and exotic had made its way into the DealZone coffee machine.

Then disgraced former New York Governor and Attorney General Eliot Spitzer joined the fray, and the slightly odd became surreal. Spitzer, who casually noted he was invited to the show (hint, hint), gave a spirited view from the nosebleed seats, far back from the federal policymakers’ bench.