Recent Media Appearances: USA Today, Bloomberg radio, BNN TV, and foxbusiness.com

Leveraging off a recent quote in USA Today re investor sentiment (see below), my three most recent media appearances from Friday - Bloomberg radio (Taking Stock with Pimm Fox) and BNN TV (Canadian Business News Network) - and yesterday - foxbusiness.com (with Tracy Byrnes) are posted. The topics of discussion include the impact that rising gas prices are likely to have on consumers; impressions from the early 2012 events; and a very useful technical analysis tool for timing the more important intermediate term trend of the equity markets.

To view and hear the media appearances, click here

USA Today quote: The mood of the Phoenix audience, said moderator Vincent Catalano of Blue Marble Research in the New York area, was more restrained than opportunistic. Catalano said he has noticed the same somber mood lately at forecast dinners hosted by other CFA or chartered financial analyst groups around the U.S.

Recent Media Appearances

Two segments last week: foxbusiness.com and Taking Stock with Pimm Fox and Courtney Donohue.

To hear what was discussed, click here

foxbusiness.com appearance

To view the segment, click here.

Quotable Quotes: China's Ghost Cities

This week's Quotable Quotes takes a look at China's ghost cities via a recent (March 2011) investigative report from SBS Dateline (Australian TV). If investors are looking for the other economic shoe to drop on the tenuous global economic environment, this very well could ultimately be the source.

To view the video, click here.

Talking Head Alert

A segment of my most recent appearance on foxbusiness.com with Tracy Byrnes is posted.

To view the interview, click here.

Beyond the Sound Bite: An Interview with Robert Steven Kaplan

It isn't everyday that we get to hear the former vice chairman of the Goldman Sachs Group share his thoughts and insights into the current economic and market environment.

Currently, Rob is professor of management practice at Harvard Business School and co-chairman of Draper Richard kaplan, a global venture philanthropy firm. Rob is also the author of the just published "What To Ask The Person In The Mirror": Critical Questions for Becoming a More Effective Leader and Reaching Your Potential.

In addition to discussing key aspects of his book, my podcast interview with Rob produced several very insightful thoughts on these most turbulent times, including the "series of sagas" investors are coping with, the implication of the changing structure of the market (e.g. capital impact on commercial banks during market swings, initiators and accelerators, pro-cyclicality), and President Obama and the question of vision and leadership.

To listen to the interview, click here.

Expansionary Austerity: A New Economic Philosophy

foxbusiness has posted my Friday appearance, in which I describe the new economic philosophy that is being adopted in western economies: Expansionary Austerity.

To view the interview, click here.

Better Late Than Never

The Wall Street Journal online just posted a lead story titled "Dearth of Demand Seen Behind Weak Hiring". The opening paragraph states the following: "The main reason U.S. companies are reluctant to step up hiring is scant demand, rather than uncertainty over government policies, according to a majority of economists in a new Wall Street Journal survey."

Well, guess what? Over a year ago I conducted a Beyond The Sound Bite podcast interview with Bill Dunkelberg, Chief Economist with the National Federation of Independent Business. In the interview, Bill stated that sales, which are derived from demand, is the key metric the jobs creation engine in America - small business - uses when making their hiring decisions.

Therefore, contrary to those politicians who seek to gain political advantage by spinning the story to the uncertainty factor dealing with regulation and taxes as to why jobs are not being created, as my podcast interview from June 2010 and now the WSJ and those economists surveyed makes clear: the primary reason why businesses not hiring is "weak sales".

In these highly politicized times and when a premium is paid to complicating just about everything, the correct answer is often the most obvious. Just like deciding who should head the jobs creation effort in the US. Should it be a small business leader or someone from a large company who fires US workers and hires foreign ones?

Talking Head Alert

Recent media appearances for myself ("Taking Stock with Pimm Fox") and my good friend, Vahan Janjigian (foxbusiness.com with Tracy Byrnes), are posted.
To view and listen to the interviews, click here.

Talking Head Time: foxbusiness.com

In this interview with Tracy Byrnes, I bring back a point I made on a number of occasions in the past - the conflicted position of the US worker, who also happens to be the US consumer. In a globalized world, one wins (consumer) while the other loses (worker).

To view the interview, click here.

Beyond the Sound Bite: The Mr. Miyagi Market

Yesterday, my latest appearance on foxbusiness.com with Tracy Byrnes afforded me the opportunity to describe the Mr. Miyagi market (wax on, wax off).

To view and listen to the interview, click here.

Talking Head Alert

It's talking head time with yours truly in the media this past week: Bloomberg radio, BNN TV, and New Delhi TV.

To view and listen to the segments, click here.

Talking Head Time

This morning I had the opportunity to participate in a week ahead market discussion for BNN TV.

To view the segments, click here.

Say What?

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to be a guest on Bloomberg radio's "Taking Stock" program and NDTV (New Delhi Television) Profit's program discussing the current market and economic environment. A key focus explored was one of the two major themes of my recently concluded Market Forecast series (10 events, 10 cities, 34 expert panelists, 920 attendees, in 6 weeks): once the the US economy is taken off stimulus steroids, will it achieve a private sector led sustainable expansion (what economists lovingly refer to as "escape velocity")? The answer will almost certainly disappoint you.

To listen and view the interviews, click here.

Beyond the Sound Bite: An Interview with Philip J. Orlando, CFA

My annual interview (this being the fourth) with Federated Investors' Senior Vice President, Chief Equity Market Strategist, Senior Portfolio Manager includes the good news/bad news aspects of the current US economic and corporate profits outlook, the direction of interest rates, an appropriate multiple for stocks, the importance of education as a long term solution to stagnant US middle income wages, and how a traditional institutional investor manages the changed structure of the markets.

Beyond the Sound Bite podcast interviews can be found at the Blue Marble Research media blog. To listen to this interview, click here.

Note: Phil is actively involved with FECA, the Foundation for Educating Children with Autism

Beyond the Sound Bite: An Interview with James J. Valentine, CFA

Ivory tower meets real world.

Once in a great while, a book comes along that blends the theoretical with the practical in such a way that readers are treated to insights of great value. Such is the case with Best Practices for Equity Research Analysts: Essentials for Buy-Side and Sell-Side Analysts, the topic of this week's interview.

The former multi year II ranked analyst and former director of global training and development with Morgan Stanley describes in five parts how to excel as an equity analyst. Anyone interested in, involved in, or considering a career as an equity analyst (buy or sell side) will have their knowledge and almost certainly their career enhanced. I cannot overstate the usefulness provided.

Beyond the Sound Bite podcast interviews can be found at the Blue Marble Research media blog. To listen to this interview, click here.

Beyond the Sound Bite: An Interview with Phil Roth, CMT

In his last appearance back in April 2010, I asked the highly respected market strategist, "Is the bull done?" His reply now is the same as then, "Not yet". This despite the continuing absence of any meaningful participation by traditional investors (professional and non) and the risk that having an equity market dominated by the fast money crowd (hedgies and others).

In such a non traditional bull market, what are the market related signs one should be on the lookout for? What are seasoned Wall Street veteran's likes and dislikes in the market? And is the market climbing a wall of worry?

Beyond the Sound Bite podcast interviews can be found at the Blue Marble Research media blog. To listen to this interview, click here.

Beyond the Sound Bite: An Interview with George Milling-Stanley

The Bard once wrote, "All that glitters is not gold". The precious metal may glitter uniquely among assets, but how does one measure the value of gold? Can one measure the value of gold?

In my interview with the Managing Director, Government Affairs for the World Gold Council, key factors in assessing the precious metal are explored. Additionally, understanding the role of gold and central bank's reserves ("The Importance of Gold in Reserve Asset Management") is discussed*.

Beyond the Sound Bite podcast interviews can be found at the Blue Marble Research media blog. To listen to this interview, click here.

Beyond the Sound Bite: An Interview with William Hartung

Too big to fail. Think it pertains only to the banking industry? Think again.

With the defense budget representing a very large chunk of the US federal pie, it behooves all investors to better understand this vital area of US government, not to mention the US economy. From his most recent book, "Prophets of War: Lockheed Martin and the Making of the Military-Industrial Complex", key aspects of President Eisenhower's final speech warning is fleshed out by the defense expert with the "New America Foundation". The consequences of actions - economic and geo political - go far beyond the industry itself and cannot be overstated.

Beyond the Sound Bite podcast interviews can be found at the Blue Marble Research media blog. To listen to this interview, click here.

Beyond the Sound Bite: An Interview with Robert Arnott

To most investors, including many investment professionals, indexes are constructs designed to track a defined area of the economy, usually via financial assets. Yet, "indexing as an investment concept" is far more prevalent than most realize.

In my interview with the co-author of " The Fundamental Index" and Chairman, Founder of Research Affiliates, we explore such areas as efficient indexing, the market inefficiencies that result from cap weighted indexes, and RAFI, the Research Affiliates Fundamental Index approach to investing. For those interested in understanding an investing methodology that large institutional investors such as PIMCO utilize, this interview will open the door to a fascinating and largely under-appreciated segment of the financial markets.

Beyond the Sound Bite podcast interviews can be found at the Blue Marble Research media blog. To listen to this interview, click here.