Investing Information

Bad News - Why The Financial News Media Can Cost You Money!





The communication innovations we have around us today like the internet, financial newspapers, and special interest television channels focused on investing like CNBC are a high speed pipeline of nonsensical chatter. All these sources of information mean that there is no shortage of media people trying to answer our questions about the stock market and specific stocks. You have to remember that the news media are constantly competing to survive against other stuff you can watch. If they don't always sound like they know exactly what is going on then you won't watch their presentations. If you don't tune into their show then their ratings go down. If their ratings go down they get fired and their show gets cancelled.

This means that financial journalists are in the business of finding great stories and sounding like authorities no matter what. The stock market is a great place for them to dig up news 'scoops' to feed to the public. They don't really check their facts very well and sometimes not at all. This means that if some insider wants to feed you a line of bull manure then all they have to do is maintain good connections with financial journalists, sponsor an investment show, or outright buy an investing TV channel like Jack Welch, the CEO of GE, did when he set up CNBC. What a great way for inside executives to control the flow of news information to the public then to actually own one of the only financial news channels?but not so great for you!

These journalists also kick up the fire by bringing in so-called 'experts' to talk about each side of some topic that real experts would not consider important. This just makes it all the more confusing for the public to understand what is important when buying or selling a stock. Shows on CNBC like 'Closing Bell', 'Kudlow & Company', and 'Mad Money' do nothing but confuse and misdirect the attention of most individual investors in the public. Even worse this means that the financial news media allows overpriced stocks to be recommended through analysts in the inside web that inside executives are dumping on the public because they are trying to get out. This actually happened at the top of the bull market in 1999. For a great historical description of what happened read Maggie Mahar's book entitled "Bull."

The famous Yale University Economist, Prof. Bob Shiller, Ph.D. is particularly harsh on the media in his book "Irrational Exuberance." Dr. Shiller is one the economists that Alan Greenspan respects most and where he got the term "Irrational Exuberance." He portrays the media as sound-bite-driven where superficial opinions are preferred over in-depth analyses. I agree whole heartedly with him and contend that it is also done just because the industry would rather have the retail investor confused and emotionally pliable to get you to buy and sell when they want with total disregard for your best interests!

People who had invested their life savings in the stock market were ripped off in the stock market because the financial news media and analysts were hyping up what a great buy stocks were at the very top of the market in 1999 and 2000. At the same time inside corporate executives were selling out everything they had. What is amazing is that our federal government in the form of the Security Exchange Commission never did a thing about it. There was never an blanket case taken or an outcry that almost all of the inside executives had somehow magically sold out of the market six months before the market crashed.

Here is the valuable tip I want you to consider in this issue of "The Wallet Doctor": when you are a beginner investor it is important that you DO NOT WATCH THE FINANCIAL NEWS OR READ THE FINANCIAL NEWSPAPERS! Don't let the stock market industry lead you around by the nose like livestock to the slaughter house. Don't listen to what they want you to listen to. You should focus on learning what is important in the stock market and the mass media will only confuse you until you have educated yourself. Also, don't forget that I show you how to focus on what is important to identify stocks that are low priced but unlikely to go lower because the insiders may be buying them up and I show you when to sell when the same insiders are likely dumping the same stocks on the public in my course "The Blue Collar Base Bonanza - What the insiders [definitely] don't want you to know!" You can get more course information on the course website at www.BaseBonanza.com.

Recommended reading:

1. Mahar, M. Bull! A History of the Boom, 1929-1999 (New York, HarperBusiness , 2003)

2. Shiller, R., Irrational Exhuberance, (New York, Broadway Books, 2000)

I wish you the great abundance in your life you deserve because of what you are and don't forget that happiness is found only in the precious present moment!

About the author: Dr. Scott Brown, Ph.D., the Wallet Doctor, is a successful futures trader, real estate investor, and stock investor. Dr. Brown holds a Ph.D. in finance from the University of South Carolina and a Master in International Management from the prestigious American Graduate School of International Business a.k.a. Thunderbird. His 1998 articles in Technical Analysis of Stocks and Commodities were prophetic in predicting an impending stock market crash. He has helped many people become profitable investors by looking out over many years to spot stocks that are low and primed for rise in the new bull market. In 1998 he was shouting out to the world to "get out" of the stock market but now he is shouting to everyone that it is time to "get in!" The Wallet Doctor is not only sought after for investment advice and coaching in stock investing but also in futures trading and real estate investing. For more information visit Dr. Brown's site at http://www.BonanzaBase.com or sign up for his investment tips at http://www.WalletDoctor.com


MORE RESOURCES:

Bloomberg

Brazil Airport Auction to Test Investment Climate as World Cup Draws Near
Bloomberg
Brazil today will auction rights to operate three of its busiest airports in a deal worth 16 billion reais ($9 billion) in investments that tests the government's ability to attract private capital ahead of the 2014 World Cup.

and more »


TPG Raises 4 billion Yuan for China Investments
Wall Street Journal
By ALISON TUDOR HONG KONG—Private-equity firm TPG said Monday it has secured about 4 billion yuan ($634 million) so far as it continues to raise capital for China investments. TPG has a team in China of 30 experienced investment professionals.

and more »


There are ways to invest tax efficiently
Hometownlife.com
I have another $50000 which I would like to invest for my retirement. I have been approached about buying a variable annuity, but after doing some research including your past columns, I don't want to pursue a variable annuity.

and more »


New York Times

Facebook IPO and Every little thing Investors Must Know Concerning the ...
Retirement Planning
The Facebook stock price are going to be unfold over the subsequent several several weeks as investors operate out the particulars with the sale. But most of Facebook's 800 million users will not get a possibility to grab a piece of Facebook stock or ...
Why Facebook may not be a wise investmentWashington Post
OPINION: Why I won't be investing in FacebookNational Business Review
Sceptics sure need for profit will burst Facebook's bubbleNew Zealand Herald
Daily Deal Media -Nashua Telegraph -Daily Maverick
all 1,425 news articles »


Moneycontrol.com

Why Dividend Stocks Aren't the New Bonds
Wall Street Journal
For many investors who crave steady income, bonds don't look as good as they used to. With US Treasury yields languishing near historic lows, some people believe they've found a great alternative: dividend-paying stocks or dividend-focused mutual funds ...
Stocks paying a dividend are important for investorsRichmond Times Dispatch
Is Bubble Trouble Ahead for Dividend-Paying Stocks?Morningstar.com
The Easiest Way to Find High-Yielding Dividend StocksForbes

all 10 news articles »


Stockopedia

Charlie Munger: Investing Success from Mental Models & Checklists
Stockopedia
Buffett credits him with much of the success of his investing approach: "Charlie shoved me in the direction of not just buying bargains, as Ben Graham had taught me. This was the real impact Charlie had on me. It took a powerful force to move me on ...
Charlie Munger: Investing Success From Mental Models Amp; ChecklistsDaily Markets

all 3 news articles »


Stock market rewards patient investors
Chicago Sun-Times
And all this happened while most ordinary investors were still scared to invest. In fact, $20 billion flowed OUT of domestic equity funds in December — thereby missing the nearly 4 percent market gains in January. In fact, total inflows to all kinds ...

and more »


A Surprising Nail in Groupon's Coffin
Motley Fool
By Austin Smith | More Articles The following video is part of our "Motley Fool Conversations" series, in which consumer-goods editor/analyst Austin Smith and technology editor/analyst Andrew Tonner discuss topics across the investing world.

and more »


Professor's Advice: It's Best to Be Bored
Wall Street Journal
When he retired from coaching in 1996, he says he used fund investing "as an outlet for my concern about the welfare of the little guy and my need to do what I'd been doing for so long—gather the evidence, assess the evidence, make an argument.

and more »


Are Bank Stocks 'Responsible'?
Wall Street Journal
By CHRIS GAY Mention "socially responsible investing" and most people think of a stock-picking strategy that involves abstinence—that is, avoiding industries or companies whose ethical, environmental or governance practices fall short of certain ...

and more »

Google News

Improve your credit  the home owner loan  Stock4Profit  Best Investing Guide  Credit Card and Mortgage  
Free Links Direct
Cheap Flights - Over 1,200 Destinations Worldwide
Cheap flights to New YorkCheap flights to DubaiCheap flights to Bangkok
Cheap flights to OrlandoCheap flights to Las VegasCheap flights to Sydney
Home | Site Map | The Investment Machine | real estate investing | stock market investing | stock market | investing strategy | stock investing | investing in | invest | stock |
© 2007