Does Barrons interview touts?
John from VA wants to know if I think some of the experts who are interviewed in Barrons try to pump stocks they own?” That’s a loaded question. I could say: John, Is the Pope German?” John goes on to say, I used to think that most money managers are careful to not do that in Barrons, but the 11/14/05 issue has me wondering. In that issue Joseph McNay states that “Google, frankly, is cheap” (page 36). I’ll give him the benefit of doubt, but in general, do you think Barrons tend to have more straight-arrow opinions than most other sources? Thank you.” The subject of touting, i.e., focussed communications in media, is so broad, it is impossible to give a brief answer. I thought a lot about it this morning because I think we are in a phase of the business cycle (the Distribution Zone”) where touting is always a problem. What is touting? I take it basically as selling something, whether it’s an opinion or a product or service. If it’s a product or service, then I suppose touting carries th
