Analysts, Gurus &amp; Pundits

Top 82. Mar 12, 1999 11:57 AM

» Lawhawk - I thought this <a href="http:

I thought this story from the New York Times (free registration required to access) would be interesting to followers of this thread. A number of online services and companies (both on and offline) have taken to scouring the Net for potential infringers or comments that may be defamatory or libelous. In this particular case, Wade Cook's people have brought suit against anonymous individuals who apparently have said disparaging things about Cook's seminars.

There was a similar situation where Raytheon is going after Yahoo! to release the names/email addresses of individuals who may have posted trade secrets and other sensitive internal documents to various posting areas. The information explosion has allowed anyone and everyone with an agenda to post comments anywhere and those aggrieved parties can then go after the posters - and potentially the sites where the information is posted.

-- posted by Lawhawk

Top 83. Mar 13, 1999 12:11 AM

» Jaybird248 - Influential Ralph/Worldcircling Mr. Bowtie

Acompora is influential the same way as Yardeni is... a clown to entertain the crowd watching CNBC. He's rapidly becoming a parody of himself. But as PT Barnum said, "speak well or ill of me, so long as you speak of me."

Kind of makes you wish for the return of Mr. Bowtie. BTW, there's a story in the new Car and Driver mag about Jimmy and his miracle Mercedes now racing (or in many cases, being towed) around the more aromatic areas of the globe.

One sidelight: It cost $600K to build this contraption...a mix of a two seat SLK sportster and a 4WD jeep. But Jimmy bitched and moaned and didn't want to pay the bill.

That's our Mr. Bowtie!

-- posted by Jaybird248

Top 84. Mar 16, 1999 1:41 PM

» DennisL - Uncle Ralphie's Quote of the Day

``We're in a new bull market. This could be the start of a 'mega-market' lasting 12 to 15 years, similar to the boom markets that followed the First and Second World Wars,''

--Ralph Acampora, commenting on the Dow's brief fling with 10,000 today.

-- posted by DennisL

Top 85. Mar 16, 1999 5:49 PM

» TONYBRIG - Ralphie's good for business

Nice guy good for the market.
When he's on the Bull side.
Did he really say that?

I'm so glad they didnt phony up a 10k close.
Let it flow naturally!

Now about that opening....................

B.O.L.

-- posted by TONYBRIG

Top 86. Mar 16, 1999 5:58 PM

» TONYBRIG - How much clout Ralphie really has?

I wonder?

Any surverys done on influential ANALYSTS
like him.
How the market moved after the statement?

B.O.L.

-- posted by TONYBRIG

Top 87. Mar 19, 1999 3:18 PM

» PeteM - Earlier this year

Ralphy was predicting 9980 at years end, now it's 11,500 or 12,000 last year was a bear market this year is a bull, no a bear, no a bull. How could anyone take his 12 year prediction seriously when he changes his mind every other month?

-- posted by PeteM

Top 88. Mar 19, 1999 3:56 PM

» KirkL - Upgrades?

Pete,

I know you are a huge BB fan, as are most of us. still..... Doesn't BB upgrade his "predictions" once they are met or "extend" them as "its a 1999 story" when the data changes?

I don't see them as that different other than the volitility index of Ralph is much higher.

I should say, I like and respect them both even with their warts.

-- posted by KirkL

Top 89. Mar 19, 1999 5:06 PM

» RandeS - Kirk,

Kirk,

Upgrades are okay (BB says his targets are typically minimums) -- Abbey Cohen does it all the time. It's the "down one minute, up the next" proclamations that get to be a bit much. That said, however, your "warts" metaphor is a good one. First, all the public gurus must have skins thick enough to defy any epidermiologist's efforts. I admire them all in a profound sense, whether I agree with them or not. Most of those who live out their lives in anonimity can't understand the heat of public scrutiny, but it certainly goes with the territory -- especially with all the wannabes spouting their venom on the Web these days. Certainly, the "warts" are there for all to see (and if you miss them, relax – they’ll soon be pointed out by the "I'm-smarter-than-he-is” crowd.

Of course, one of the repeated knocks against the likes of BB is that he refuses to acknowledge his own warts, but is quick to point out others' blemishes. What many fail to understand is that in the investment guru business "public humility" can be deadly. After all, who wants to put their monetary faith in someone who admits anything less than omniscience? Many of hese gurus make their livings off of newsletter subscriptions, t.v. appearances, radio shows, etc., or, if they are hooked up with a wire-house, depend on their guru status to keep the bonuses coming.

As for BB, it should be satisfaction enough (for the mature critic) to know that in his private moments he must rue the day he typed the letters "UTEK" into the manuscript of his newsletter. Does anyone doubt this is the case?

Okay, so he puts a spin on such things. So what? And yes, he's been harsh on the "Bad News Bears" and pulls no punches. Remember, it's a radio SHOW -- it's supposed to be entertaining as much as it is supposed to be informative (only more so). Anyway (and this is directed to nobody in particular, but the harshest of critics in general) try publishing your own newsletter and hosting a national talk show yourself sometime. It would be interesting for the rest of us to see how you would handle the heat when (God forbid) you turned out less than perfect. What's that? You’ld rather not? Don’t have the guts? Or the brains? Or the experience and knowledge? What a shock. (I’m with you in this regard, by the way.)

The mature and knowing individual can look past the occasional wart and forgive the spin because he/she is experienced enough to know it's part of the "game.” Important thing is to benefit from what is otherwise sound advice on balance. Some choose to snipe instead, laying bare their own pathetic agenda spawned from failed hopes and dreams of recognition never gained. Prefer to keep the sour grapes off my own plate. Thanks.

-- posted by RandeS

Top 90. Mar 19, 1999 5:23 PM

» KirkL - Mickey Mouse

My favorite way to look at the "Bear Roll Call" and other stuff is BB works for "Mickey Mouse" and that means he is there to entertain as well as educate. I think William of Flannigan is just as smart and I often think his answers are better for a general audience and he listens to the callers better but most complain that he is too dull. I prefer Bob... Butter on both sides of the toast some seem to want?

-- posted by KirkL