Topic: How To Invest

What is Pat’s commentary for the week of September 16, 2014

Article Excerpt

Recently a member asked a question that you may also have wondered about over the years. “Why is it that recommendations from the various pundits, CEOs, brokers and money managers so often go down rather than up after they tout their stuff on [a Canadian cable-TV financial channel]? Are these guys above pumping and dumping?” “Pumping and dumping” is far too strong a term. After all, that’s a form of stock fraud. Pump-and-dump operators usually focus on small and little-known stocks with few if any tangible assets. Perpetrators of the scheme already have a holding in the company’s stock. They plan to “pump” demand for their shares by circulating false, misleading or greatly exaggerated statements and predictions about the stock. They plan to “dump” their holdings after their hype has led to a rise in the stock’s price. The stock usually collapses within a few weeks or months. Though this practice is illegal, successful prosecutions are rare. In contrast, cable-TV guests and broadcasters operate well…