The heart of the 2008 financial crisis was a coterie of reckless financial executives, working for too-big-to-fail financial companies, who were handsomely compensated for taking risks that almost ruined the economy when they failed. Gary Weiss bigcompanycompensate share on social
Oil futures were originally created to give heating oil dealers, gas retailers, aviation companies and other businesses a method of hedging against adverse price changes. Instead, they've become just another Wall Street plaything. Gary Weiss adverseaviationbusiness share on social
I'm not an ultra-libertarian who thinks there shouldn't be insider-trading laws at all. Gary Weiss insiderlawlibertarian Change image and share on social
Mutual funds dare to be average. In fact, they dare to be lousy. They have long since ceased striving for anything resembling perfection when it comes to managing your money. Gary Weiss averageceasedare Change image and share on social
Humiliating events have a way of capturing the public's imagination. So it has been since antiquity, when gladiators were pitted against each other and the legions of Spartacus were crucified in endless rows on the way to Rome. Gary Weiss antiquitycapturecrucify share on social
The media and marketing deluge has spawned a new type of Wall Street loser: the armchair momentum player. These are novice investors who engage in short-term stock buying and selling based on media reports or an expert's enthusiasm. Gary Weiss armchairbasebuy share on social
When the Securities & Exchange Commission settled securities-fraud charges against Richard Harriton, former chairman of the clearing subsidiary of Bear, Stearns & Co., there were smiles all around. The SEC was happy. Harriton was happy. Bear Stearns was happy. Gary Weiss bearchairmancharge share on social
Conspiracy theories feed on opacity, and that's a longtime problem with short selling. Large long positions must be reported to the Securities and Exchange Commission in public filings, but not large short positions. Gary Weiss commissionconspiracyexchange share on social
With 'posts' running in the millions, Internet message boards have become an essential part of the savvy investor's arsenal. Gary Weiss arsenalboardessential Change image and share on social
Newt Gingrich is a boastful kind of guy. But when it comes to Wall Street, the former House speaker is surprisingly modest. Gary Weiss boastfulgingrichguy Change image and share on social