Quantcast
Channel: Money Media

The man who saved CNBC is the biggest winner following NBC's Brian Williams disaster

0
0

cnbc carl quintanilla models

In all the turmoil and head rolling at NBC, one change has gone almost unnoticed. Mark Hoffman, President of business network CNBC, is now reporting directly to NBC Universal CEO Steve Burke.

That's the very top.

Hoffman used to report to Pat Fili-Krushel the former NBC News Group Chairman, who then reported to Burke. Fili-Krushel, however, was caught in the tsunami that is the Brian Williams scandal. She oversaw CNBC, MSNBC, and NBC News and was replaced by former Bloomberg exec Andy Lack.

Lack will be overseeing MSNBC and NBC News, but not CNBC. 

"There are two schools of thought here," said one former CNBC employee. One is that CNBC is making so much money Hoffman deserves a leg up. The other is that Lack needs to focus on NBC and MSNBC not CNBC, and he doesn't need that extra responsibility."

mark hoffmanBesides, now that Nightly News is in turmoil, CNBC has replaced it as the crown jewel of the network. 

"I think Hoffman went to Burke and said, 'Listen I've been $400 million in profit for you. You gave me one order, fix primetime and I fixed primetime. I'm not a problem unlike NBC and MSNBC,'" another source with knowledge of the network's thinking said.

The whole "fixing primetime" thing  wasn't a CNBC or Hoffman specific problem either. It's a reflection of how business news in general is changing in the digital era.

As with all things, the internet changed the game. News that once broke on television is instantly on news sites and social media. For CNBC and Hoffman, that meant that in order to keep the network healthy, the focus had to change from daytime ratings to primetime ratings.

According to one source, Hoffman's now-former boss, Fili-Krushel, suggested he change the focus of CNBC in the evenings away from pure business reporting and into a wider variety of content — from "first in business" to "first in money." Hoffman ran with the idea. 

This is why you're seeing programs like 'American Greed,' 'Shark Tank', 'The Profit' and an upcoming show called 'Restaurant Startup' at night on CNBC. 

Other sources point out that 'American Greed' just aired its 100th episode last month and that Hoffman has been pursuing reality TV as a primetime strategy for over 5 years.

"He's turned primetime into a success," said another source. "I'm not convinced you can do anything to change the trends."

Another way to look at Hoffman's seeming-promotion is as a return to the way things were. When Jeff Zucker was head of NBC Universal, Hoffman reported directly to him. Fili-Krushel's layer of management was added after Burke took over. Some insiders say that the layer was unnecessary in the first place.

There is some speculation out there that Hoffman wanted the job Lack just got. A couple sources we spoke to don't buy it.

"Mark's very philosophical," said a source familiar with his thinking. "He has it easy. He's got 2-3 years left... He goes from Scarsdale to Englewood Cliffs. He's been there for 10 years... "Here's his attitude 'I run a worldwide network and it makes money... I don't need headaches in my life.'"

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: This is what separates the Excel masters from the wannabes


Bloomberg TV star Stephanie Ruhle is selling her marvelous Tribeca condo for $5.2 million

CNBC skipped the biggest hedge fund conference of the year, and Wall Street barely noticed

0
0

jim cramer bizarre episodeWall Street barely noticed that CNBC didn't cover SALT, the biggest hedge fund conference of the year held in Las Vegas last week.

"Don't know if CNBC really made a difference," said one hedge fund executive. "Right now it's all about Twitter coverage and stuff. Less about TV."

CNBC gave up its exclusive rights to cover the conference after a public disagreement with SALT creator, SkyBridge Capital CEO Anthony Scaramucci.

Last year at SALT, Scaramucci announced that his firm had purchased the rights to Wall Street Week, a Sunday morning show now airing online and on Fox stations in major markets around the country. Shortly after that announcement, CNBC allowed his contributor agreement to lapse.

"Looks like big media can't always push around big managers," said one SALT delegate who noticed the network wasn't on site.

Of course, this isn't to say that CNBC didn't have other coverage, or that Wall Street wasn't watching it. SALT is a hedge fund conference, after all, and that's just one segment of the financial services industry. 

Fast Money's Melissa Lee spent last week covering the FinTech eMerge Conference in Miami, a Latin American tech conference. Sources tell Business Insider that no one there noted CNBC's absence from another conference going on across the country.

"Even though SALT is the biggest, it's not the only game in town," said the source. "Fintech is exploding now so technically CNBC was in the right place at the right time."

And even if they weren't, even CNBC fans had other non-TV outlets to go for drops of news.

"If you guys [Business Insider] weren't writing and tweeting about it I might have not known it was going on," said one veteran trader who did not attend the conference. "That comes from a CNBC centric guy obviously. I don't follow Fox of Bloomberg people, don't watch their shows I [also] don't know anyone in the business in my network who went and didn't see any news break from it... So I have no axe to grind, but did CNBC not being there make a difference to the normal buzz or is it that i am just out of the loop?"

Good question.

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: How one simple mistake cost 'Real Housewives' superstar Bethenny Frankel millions

What the woman who created the real 'Money Monster' thinks about George Clooney's movie

0
0

susan krakower

Susan Krakower bagged groceries in Queens, New York as a kid before moving to Los Angeles and working in TV trying to learn everything she could possibly know about creating a show.

Those efforts paid off. She created CNBC's first smash hit, 'Mad Money with Jim Cramer' in the 1990s, and then created the 'Fast Money' franchise on CNBC.

And now Julia Roberts has basically played her in a movie.

The movie is called Money Monster. It stars George Clooney as Lee Gates — a fast-talking, Wall Street TV personality who suddenly finds himself in a hostage situation when a viewer who lost his entire savings on one stock enters his TV studio during a live broadcast and holds him at gunpoint.

Roberts plays Gates' producer, Patty Fenn. She steadily guides him from the control room as he wears a explosive vest his attacker had on hand.

"It's crazy to the extent that it infiltrated our culture — a show on a cable network that I created," Krakower said when Business Insider sat down with her earlier this month.

(Note: She had yet to see the movie, and was not consulted on its direction.)

"It's [the hostage situation] not the kind of thing that executives at networks have not thought about ... because it could happen. If your defenses are down for some reason it could happen."

Gates is painted as a charlatan at first (don't worry there's a twist). His captor, Kyle Budwell, invested all of his money in an investment firm called Ibis, in part, because Gates hyped it hard on "Money Monster." Turns out there was shady stuff going on at the company that Gates is forced to uncover under duress, and on live TV.

"It's crazy, but it's a great compliment," Krakower said. "When I got to CNBC... I had come from LA and developing shows, and it was the first time on a network that I was able to create for a news division. And not with an anchor and prompter. I thought: 'Let's create something authentic, with a mission that is to make money.'"

Jim Cramer

The yelling, the rolled up sleeves, the trader speak, the props, the sounds — everything that is associated with 'Mad Money,' was part of Krakower's vision for a show that made you stop and watch when you were scrolling threw the channels.

"Kudos and thank you always to Jeff Zucker," Krakower told Business Insider. "At the time I created the show there was no leadership at CNBC."

Zucker, at the time, was the head of the whole NBC network. After she pitched the idea he sent her an email Krakower used carry in her wallet. It said:  "Congratulations to you, I believe you found CNBC's first hit."

Of course, the movie is darker than that and touches on the main criticism of financial TV. What is the line between education and entertainment?

On that point Krakower pulls no punches. 

"But those people who lost money also made money when the market recovered," she says, "and the whole thesis of capitalism is to have your money work for you. And my thing is everyone's gotta be working, even your money."

wall street week episode oneShe continued:"There are many shows that get it wrong, and many shows that get it right."

"If you look there are disclaimers on these shows. You have to do what's right for you. Do you have $100,000 to play with or $100 to play with?"

Krakower left CNBC in 2014 and is currently keeping it real as head of the media arm of investment firm SkyBridge Capital.

There she helped develop the reboot of news show Wall Street Week, which airs on Fox Business Network.

"Working side by side with Krakower... for the last six years I would say that Susan would remain as cool and collected as Julia did under stress," said Wall Street Week co-host and former CNBC personality Gary Kaminsky.

"But I also think she might've come out of the control room and knocked out the intruder with a fist too."

Krakower says she wouldn't have been in the control room. She used to stand behind the camera motioning at Cramer with as much animation as he motioned to the audience.

That's more her style.

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Hugh Hefner's son reacts to the sale of the Playboy Mansion

5 rules for navigating financial media

0
0

jim cramer bizarre episode

A reporter working on a story about financial media asked me to contribute five tips for a sidebar on how consumers can be savvier in their, well, consumption.

Here’s what I came up with:

  1. Remember that everyone has a bias or agenda. Everyone (me too! and you!).
  2. Don’t confuse someone else’s time frame for your own.
  3. Know that 95% of what you read is contextual information, not actionable (which is perfectly fine).
  4. Ignore all forecasts and price targets, except for entertainment purposes.
  5. Hierarchy: Books > Articles > Blogs > Tweets

I learned a lot about what I actually thought about this topic in the process of researching and writing my book, Clash of the Financial Pundits. Having gone through the entire history of financial commentary and forecasting, I came to some pretty dramatic realizations that have forever changed the way I look at markets and investing.

If you haven’t read it yet, what are you waiting for?

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: 14 things you didn't know your iPhone headphones could do

CNBC won't be at the must-attend Wall Street conference of the year

0
0

anthony scaramucci Kevin Spacey

CNBC will not be covering SALT Las Vegas this year, the hedge fund conference that has become a must-attend event on Wall Street since investment firm SkyBridge capital launched it 7 years ago.

"We have no plans to cover SALT," said a source with knowledge of the situation.

CNBC used to have an exclusive deal to cover the conference on television. Set up just outside the main conference room, the biggest names on Wall Street could just drop by CNBC's set and chat between talks given by a star studded list of speakers ranging from former President Bill Clinton, to Third Point LLC founder Dan Loeb and actor Kevin Spacey. Last year Lenny Kravitz gave a concert.

But this year there will be none of that. SkyBridge founder Anthony Scaramucci parted ways with CNBC last summer. A former contributor to the network, his contract was left to lapse after he announced that he'd purchased the rights to re-air "Wall Street Week", a weekly financial news show that aired on PBS from 1970 to 2005.

Sources say that CNBC was upset that Scaramucci didn't disclose that he had purchased the rights to the show, even though he signed a non-disclosure agreement during the deal. It probably didn't help that he poached star CNBC producers Susan Krakower and Raymond Borelli to produce "Wall Street Week" either. Krakower created CNBC's "Fast Money" shows as well as "Mad Money with Jim Cramer."

"I can't comment on CNBC's executive decisions as it is sometimes hard to know what they are thinking," Scaramucci told Business Insider. "We will miss them but welcome Bloomberg and Fox Business to SALT and look forward to breaking news there."

This year SALT will take place at the Bellagio in Las Vegas from May 5th to May 8th. Speakers include former President of the Soviet Union Mikhail Gorbachev, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, former Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, and more.

A source familiar with CNBC's thinking seemed nonplussed: "CNBC receives requests to cover conferences that happen around the globe every day."

SEE ALSO: Now we know when the most iconic Wall Street show in decades is coming back on air

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: This is what separates the Excel masters from the wannabes

The man who saved CNBC is the biggest winner following NBC's Brian Williams disaster

0
0

cnbc carl quintanilla models

In all the turmoil and head rolling at NBC, one change has gone almost unnoticed. Mark Hoffman, President of business network CNBC, is now reporting directly to NBC Universal CEO Steve Burke.

That's the very top.

Hoffman used to report to Pat Fili-Krushel the former NBC News Group Chairman, who then reported to Burke. Fili-Krushel, however, was caught in the tsunami that is the Brian Williams scandal. She oversaw CNBC, MSNBC, and NBC News and was replaced by former Bloomberg exec Andy Lack.

Lack will be overseeing MSNBC and NBC News, but not CNBC. 

"There are two schools of thought here," said one former CNBC employee. One is that CNBC is making so much money Hoffman deserves a leg up. The other is that Lack needs to focus on NBC and MSNBC not CNBC, and he doesn't need that extra responsibility."

mark hoffmanBesides, now that Nightly News is in turmoil, CNBC has replaced it as the crown jewel of the network. 

"I think Hoffman went to Burke and said, 'Listen I've been $400 million in profit for you. You gave me one order, fix primetime and I fixed primetime. I'm not a problem unlike NBC and MSNBC,'" another source with knowledge of the network's thinking said.

The whole "fixing primetime" thing  wasn't a CNBC or Hoffman specific problem either. It's a reflection of how business news in general is changing in the digital era.

As with all things, the internet changed the game. News that once broke on television is instantly on news sites and social media. For CNBC and Hoffman, that meant that in order to keep the network healthy, the focus had to change from daytime ratings to primetime ratings.

According to one source, Hoffman's now-former boss, Fili-Krushel, suggested he change the focus of CNBC in the evenings away from pure business reporting and into a wider variety of content — from "first in business" to "first in money." Hoffman ran with the idea. 

This is why you're seeing programs like 'American Greed,' 'Shark Tank', 'The Profit' and an upcoming show called 'Restaurant Startup' at night on CNBC. 

Other sources point out that 'American Greed' just aired its 100th episode last month and that Hoffman has been pursuing reality TV as a primetime strategy for over 5 years.

"He's turned primetime into a success," said another source. "I'm not convinced you can do anything to change the trends."

Another way to look at Hoffman's seeming-promotion is as a return to the way things were. When Jeff Zucker was head of NBC Universal, Hoffman reported directly to him. Fili-Krushel's layer of management was added after Burke took over. Some insiders say that the layer was unnecessary in the first place.

There is some speculation out there that Hoffman wanted the job Lack just got. A couple sources we spoke to don't buy it.

"Mark's very philosophical," said a source familiar with his thinking. "He has it easy. He's got 2-3 years left... He goes from Scarsdale to Englewood Cliffs. He's been there for 10 years... "Here's his attitude 'I run a worldwide network and it makes money... I don't need headaches in my life.'"

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: This is what separates the Excel masters from the wannabes

There was a big change at CNBC after the exec producer of 'Closing Bell' left for Fox Business

0
0

Pulling double-duty with my pal Kelly Evans.

A big change just happened at CNBC after one of the senior level producers suddenly left for Fox Business Network.

Gary Schreier, the executive producer of "Closing Bell," is returning to Fox Business after a three-year stint at CNBC. He'll be joining Fox Business as the VP of programming, TV Newser's Brian Flood reported.

According to a memo obtained by Business Insider, Lisa Villalobos is now the executive producer of "Closing Bell" and Maxwell Meyers is now the EP of "Fast Money."

"As some of you know, these moves are triggered by the departure of Gary Schreier, who is returning to Fox Business after a three-year stint at CNBC," Nik Deogun, CNBC's editor-in-chief, wrote.

Here's a copy of the memo:

I’m pleased to announce new roles for two of our excellent executive producers: Lisa Villalobos and Maxwell Meyers. Lisa, who has been executive producer of “Fast Money” for the past 17 months, will become EP of “Closing Bell.” Max, who serves as EP of “Options Action,” as well as a number of digital initiatives, will be the new EP of “Fast Money.”

Both Max and Lisa have stellar track records. Prior to joining the “Fast Money” team, Lisa served as senior producer for “Squawk on the Street.”

Lisa came to CNBC in 2012 from Fox Business and helped launch two shows there. She also worked as a producer at Court TV and in online ad sales at ABC. She is a graduate of NYU.

Max is no stranger to “Fast Money” as he helped launch the program in 2006. He has since held a number of positions at CNBC, including senior producer for “The Strategy Session,” “Fast Money” and “Money in Motion.” Prior to joining CNBC, Max worked at CNNfn. He started his career at Bear Stearns and has written for Kiplinger's Personal Finance, The Bond Buyer and CNBC.com. He is a graduate of Skidmore College.

As some of you know, these moves are triggered by the departure of Gary Schreier, who is returning to Fox Business after a three-year stint at CNBC. I want to thank Gary for his work on “Closing Bell,” which he has so ably guided in his time here. Please join me in congratulating Lisa and Max on their new assignments.

Nik

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: The 5 basic Excel shortcuts everyone needs to know


The show that created a rift between CNBC and a top hedge funder premiered — and here's what Wall Street is saying about it

0
0

wall street week episode one

The reboot of "Wall Street Week"— a weekly show that ran on PBS from 1970 to 2005 — premiered Sunday on Fox affiliate stations in major cities across the country, and given the circumstances surrounding its creation, it's no surprise that Wall Street was talking about it on Monday.

"It will be interesting to see whether or not you get a 'Barron's bump' on Monday morning," said one industry insider, referring to the well-regarded weekly business journal.

The "bump" means the topics discussed on WSW on Sunday could move markets once they open on Monday. That's one huge measure of its impact on the Street. It takes a lot of work to get to that point, though, maybe even more than it took to create the first episode.

Host Anthony Scaramucci announced that his hedge fund, SkyBridge Capital, bought the rights to WSW on CNBC last spring. He also announced that he was hiring two CNBC veteran producers to create the show. Shortly after that, Scaramucci's contributors contract with CNBC was allowed to expire and he started contributing to Fox Business Network instead.

Most recently, another CNBC vet, former vice chairman of Morgan Stanley Wealth Management Gary Kaminsky, was also drafted to host the show with Scaramucci.

"I like Gary [Kaminsky] a lot, and the producers know what they are doing. Anthony is probably doing what he was meant to be doing as a TV host, not a panelist or a market participant," said one a source familiar with Scaramucci's time at CNBC. "The show should be successful as long as he can attract A-list guests."

And in its first week, WSW did attract the crème de la crème of Wall Street. "Bond king" Jeff Gundlach did an extensive interview in which he explained the problems he sees developing in the junk-bond market. Charles Schwab strategist Liz Ann Sonders was also on hand.

"I was on the original show in 1987 and this show did a great job of copying and improving it," said Steve Kroll of investment firm Monness, Crespi, Hardt & Co., Inc. "Since there was little advertising on it — still the best-kept secret on business out there. Guests were great and I look forward to more stock ideas."

Inside CNBC the word is silence. The show is not discussed. Some insiders say it's because CNBC doesn't care; others say that it's because CNBC reporters were forbidden from tweeting about the show or from going to the premiere party in New York City the Tuesday before it aired.

CNBC, for its part, wouldn't comment.

Not all of the feedback about the show was completely positive. Viewers from Los Angeles to Indiana voiced concerns about Scaramucci's opening monologue and the buddy repartee between him and Kaminsky. They're also calling for more engagement online.

Lets see if those wrinkles get ironed out.

Check out Gundlalch's interview here.

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: This hidden subplot of 'Game of Thrones' spells out the real trouble for the Lannisters

The new show all of Wall Street is talking about has another huge guest coming

0
0

Scaramucci

Iconic financial TV show "Wall Street Week" is back and the guest lineup so far has been on point.

Sunday's episode will feature activist hedge fund manager Barry Rosenstein, the founder of $11 billion JANA Partners, according to sources familiar. Rosenstein is especially timely since his fund recently disclosed a $2 billion stake in wireless tech developer giant, Qualcomm.

This episode's panel will also include Eric Peters of Peters Capital Group. We've heard that it's Peters first time on TV. Peters writes a popular macro newsletter on Wall Street.

Amy Butte, the former CFO of the New York Stock Exchange, is also on the panel. 

The revived show debuted last weekend with an extensive interview with bond god, Jeffrey Gundlach, the founder and CEO of DoubleLine Capital.

Last spring, Anthony Scaramucci, the founder of SkyBridge Capital, said he would bring back "Wall Street Week." Scaramucci hosts alongside former Morgan Stanley Wealth Management vice chairman, Gary Kaminsky. Both of them spent many years on CNBC's airwaves. They also have deep rolodexes and the ability to get big guests on the show. 

"Wall Street Week" airs on Sundays on FOX affiliate stations in New York City, Chicago, Washington, D.C., and San Francisco. The episodes can also be viewed online. 

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: This hidden subplot of 'Game of Thrones' spells out the real trouble for the Lannisters

Everything you need to know before the biggest hedge fund conference of the year kicks off Tuesday night

0
0

jon najarian and co at the pool in Las Vegas

On Tuesday evening around 2,000 hedge fund managers, DC insiders, Wall Street bankers, reporters, security experts, and will.i.am will descend on the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas for an annual four day meeting of the minds.

Business Insider will also be in the scrum covering the action live.

It's like this — SALT Las Vegas, an annual conference hosted by investment firm SkyBridge Capital, is the biggest hedge fund conference of the year, and the entire Street will be either there, or listening for the nuggets of news that come from there.

The agenda includes on and off the record talks with everyone from former Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel and former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, to Sir Richard Branson, who is holding a talk about drug legalization. Michael J Fox will be there, and so will hedge fund managers like Kyle Bass, Jim Chanos and Leon Cooperman. James Carville and Karl Rove will share the stage for a panel on the 2016 Presidential election.

That's just a slice of the conference action. 

There's some behind-the-scenes drama underlying the whole event too. CNBC once had exclusive rights to put SALT on air, but since the network broke with SkyBridge CEO Anthony Scaramucci last summer, Bloomberg and Fox Business Network are covering it this year. CNBC will be nowhere. Insiders expect the other two networks to really turn it up in CNBC's absence.

So anyway — you can imagine this is a pretty colorful event.

Scaramucci, Anthony Scaramucci, SALT Conference, SkyBridge Capital, Skybridge AlternativesTo get you all caught up, lets run down some highlights from last year:

Check out the full SALT agenda here, and we'll let you know when we land in Vegas.

And here's Gasparino in a fanny pack again. Just because.

charlie gasparino fanny pack

 

 

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: This is the Excel trick that will change everything about how you work with data

Maria Bartiromo carries around a custom-made on-air earpiece in her bag

0
0

mohamed el-erian maria bartiromo

Fox Business Network's Maria Bartiromo likes to use her own on-air earpiece, so she keeps her personal piece, which is molded to her ear, in her bag.

The markets editor let Us Weekly take a look inside her Prada tote.

In addition to the earpiece, they found Harman Kardon headphones, Vicks menthol cough drops, a handful of pens and highlighters in a Ziploc bag, and a special red ribbon tied in a bow that her mother gave her for good luck.

"I never take it out because it's from my mom," she told Us Weekly.

Take a look at her purse and its contents over at Us Weekly »

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: The fashion risks every modern gentleman should take

'Huge' changes are coming to Fox Business Network's show line-up

0
0

maria bartiromo

Business Insider has heard that Fox Business Network is making some "huge" changes to its show lineup.

TVNewser is also reporting that Fox Business will be announcing changes to its show schedule this afternoon.

Those changes include Maria Bartiromo moving to the 6 am to 9 am ET time slot where Don Imus currently anchors "Imus In the Morning." He's going off the air at the end of this month.

As part of the lineup shift, Stuart Varney's show "Varney & Co." will start airing from 9 am until noon instead of its current slot of 11 am until 1 pm.

A source speculated that it's "no surprise" that Varney is the "winner" with the 2016 election coming up. 

Bartiromo has been anchoring "Opening Bell with Maria Bartiromo" on Fox Business since the first quarter of 2014. With the early morning show she'll now go head-to-head with CNBC's "Squawk Box."

Bartiromo joined Fox Business Network after spending 20 years on CNBC's airwaves.

TVNewser is also reporting that Trish Regan, who just joined Fox Business from Bloomberg TV, will anchor the 2 pm hour. We're also hearing that Melissa Francis will co-anchor the 4 pm hour with David Asman and that Liz Claman will be on at 3. 

Representatives from Fox Business did not respond to requests for comment. 

Here's a copy of the current Fox Business schedule: 

6a - 9a Imus in the Morning Don Imus Business, politics, and popular culture news--The Old Cowboy takes on Washington heavyweights and business insiders alike to keep you updated!

9a - 11a Opening Bell with Maria Bartiromo Maria Bartiromo “The Opening Bell with Maria Bartiromo” is the business show investors watch for the most up-to-date news of the morning from around the world and the headline guests you want to hear from.

11a - 1p Varney & Co Stuart Varney Veteran journalist Stuart Varney and his business savvy team give you the 411 on Wall Street.

1p - 2p Risk & Reward with Deirdre Bolton Deirdre Bolton Deirdre Bolton takes you beyond stocks and bonds into the world of alternative investing. She brings viewers new ways to make money and better ways to keep it.

2p - 3p MONEY w/ Melissa Francis Melissa Francis A breakdown of the day’s top stories and how those stories impact the American taxpayer.

3p - 4p Countdown to the Closing Bell with Liz Claman Liz Claman We're counting down to the close of the markets!

4p - 5p After the Bell David Asman, Liz Claman Anchors Liz Claman and David Asman bring viewers the breaking news after the bell and explain what it means for them, their investments, and the market tomorrow.

5p - 6p The Willis Report Gerri Willis Investigating top business stories, outing corporate scams and policing D.C. policy! Uncovering the real stories behind business headlines.

6p - 7p Making Money with Charles Payne Charles Payne “Making Money with Charles Payne” will be joined by a panel of business and market experts to debate the headlines, give viewers an end-of-day wrap, and provide an insider’s look at tomorrow’s money makers

7p - 8p Lou Dobbs Tonight Lou Dobbs Get a breakdown of the day’s top stories and how they impact the economy!

8p - 9p Cavuto Neil Cavuto Trusted, experienced and straight shooting ... it is the number one name in business.

9p - 10p Strange Inheritance Jamie Colby Love, loss, and a legacy left behind. ‘Strange Inheritance’ is a ground-breaking new reality program from the Fox Business Network.

10p - 11p Kennedy Lisa "Kennedy" Montgomery Kennedy -- hosted by Lisa “Kennedy” Montgomery, features sharp eye-opening commentary on today’s hottest issues – no topic is off limits as Kennedy brings her unique perspective to politics, business and culture

11p - 12a Lou Dobbs Tonight Lou Dobbs Get a breakdown of the day’s top stories and how they impact the economy! Late Night

12a - 1a Strange Inheritance Jamie Colby Love, loss, and a legacy left behind. ‘Strange Inheritance’ is a ground-breaking new reality program from the Fox Business Network.

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Here's what happens when you get bitten by a black widow

CNBC skipped the biggest hedge-fund conference of the year, and Wall Street barely noticed

0
0

jim cramer bizarre episodeWall Street barely noticed that CNBC didn't cover SALT, the biggest hedge-fund conference of the year held in Las Vegas last week.

"Don't know if CNBC really made a difference," said one hedge-fund executive. "Right now it's all about Twitter coverage and stuff. Less about TV."

CNBC gave up its exclusive rights to cover the conference after a public disagreement with SALT creator and SkyBridge Capital CEO Anthony Scaramucci.

Last year at SALT, Scaramucci announced that his firm had purchased the rights to Wall Street Week, a Sunday morning show now airing online and on Fox stations in major markets around the country. Shortly after that announcement, CNBC allowed his contributor agreement to lapse.

"Looks like big media can't always push around big managers," said one SALT delegate who noticed the network wasn't on site.

Of course, this isn't to say that CNBC didn't have other coverage, or that Wall Street wasn't watching it. SALT is a hedge-fund conference, after all, and that's just one segment of the financial-services industry. 

Fast Money's Melissa Lee spent last week covering the FinTech eMerge Conference in Miami, a Latin American tech conference. Sources tell Business Insider that no one there noted CNBC's absence from another conference going on across the country.

"Even though SALT is the biggest, it's not the only game in town," said the source. "Fintech is exploding now so technically CNBC was in the right place at the right time."

And even if they weren't, even CNBC fans had other non-TV outlets to go to for drops of news.

"If you guys [Business Insider] weren't writing and tweeting about it I might have not known it was going on," said one veteran trader who did not attend the conference. "That comes from a CNBC-centric guy obviously. I don't follow Fox of Bloomberg people, don't watch their shows I [also] don't know anyone in the business in my network who went and didn't see any news break from it ... So I have no ax to grind, but did CNBC not being there make a difference to the normal buzz or is it that I am just out of the loop?"

Good question.

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: How one simple mistake cost 'Real Housewives' superstar Bethenny Frankel millions

Charlie Gasparino admits his Twitter feed makes his wife say 'Oh my God, what are you doing?'

0
0

Charles Gasparino

Prolific Tweeter and Fox Business Network senior correspondent Charles Gasparino will be in the June issue of Playboy magazine.

The outspoken Wall Street reporter participated in a "20Q" interview.

Naturally, he's his uncensored self, and in the spirit of letting it all hang out, Gasparino explained to Playboy why he goes totally nuclear on Twitter.  

Q19
Let’s talk about Twitter. In November you tweeted a number of insults at Ron Insana of CNBC. You called him “fat boy,” “fat slob,” “not just fat but dumb,” “disgusting slob” and, for an encore, “a putrid, balding, disgusting fat-cat bootlicking sycophantic douche.” Is that any way for an adult to talk?

If you’re going to throw the first punch at me, be ready for nuclear war. Telling someone to go f**** themselves is completely within the bounds of ethics, especially when they’re wrong and I’m right. Truth is a defense. The guy we’re talking about is a fat, unctuous, sycophantic Wall Street suck-up. He’d been saying stuff about me behind the scenes, and then one day he said it on Twitter, and I lost it. I’m a combative person. I have to admit, I am kind of a prick at times. Even my friends will say, “He’s an ass****.” 

Q20
Does your wife read your Twitter posts?
Yes. And she says, “Oh my God, what are you doing?” Often.

We reached out to Ron Insana for comment on Gasparino's Playboy interview. We have not reached out to Mrs. Gasparino.

Read the full interview here>>

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: This is the Excel trick that will change everything about how you work with data


Greek bystander steals Bloomberg anchor's mic on live TV

0
0

Bloomberg TV's Joe Weisenthal was accosted by an individual and had his microphone snatched out of his hand while doing a live segment in Athens. 

Weisenthal handled the situation well, remaining calm while someone on his tech team attempted to retrieve the stolen microphone.

He also showed a good sense of humor. Afterward, Weisenthal took a selfie with the person.

It's live TV. Anything can happen.

Check it out: 

 

Here's the clip:

Join the conversation about this story »

The 16 safest banks in the world

0
0

Police behind shields

Europe's economy is still sluggish while China's market volatility continues. Greece has a cash shortage while Argentina carries a hefty debt burden.

It seems as if no bank is safe.

But the best place to store capital right now is in Europe, according to an annual report conducted by Global Finance.

“There have been some big changes in the Safest Banks ranking for 2015—reflecting the volatile markets within which many banks are now operating,” said the publisher and editorial director of the publication, Joseph D. Giarraputo.

The finance magazine determined the annual rankings by studying "long-term foreign currency ratings" from Fitch, S&P, and Moody's as of Aug. 2015. And it created a list dominated by European banks.

Germany boasts the most banks on the list, with seven. Three American banks also made it to the top 50 — the highest being AgriBank, at 30th place.

The full report will be published in Global Finance's November issue.

Scroll down to see the list in ascending order.

Click the link to Global Financial for a full list of the 50 safest banks of 2015.

16. Royal Bank of Canada

Country: Canada

Assets: CAD$1.086 trillion, or US$819.3 billion

Fitch: AA

Moody's: Aa3

S&P: AA-

 



15. Banque Cantonale Vaudoise

Country: Switzerland

Assets: CHF42.1 billion, or US$43.4 billion

Fitch: N/R

Moody's: Aa2

S&P: AA



14. Société de Financement Locale (SFIL)

Country: France

Assets: €88 billion, or US$99.76 billion

Fitch: AA-

Moody's: Aa2

S&P: N/R



13. United Overseas Bank

Country: Singapore

Assets: S$306.7 billion, or  US$217.1 billion

Fitch: AA-

Moody's: Aa1

S&P: AA-



12. Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp

Country: Singapore

Assets: S$401.2 billion (Morningstar) or US$284.1 billion

Fitch: AA-

Moody's: Aa1

S&P: AA-

 



11. DBS Bank

Country: Singapore

Assets: S$440 billion, or US$311.6 billion

Fitch: AA-

Moody's: Aa1

S&P: AA-

 



10. TD Bank Group

Country: Canada

Assets:C$1.080.2 trillion, or US$814.5 billion

Fitch: AA-

Moody's: Aa1

S&P: AA-

 



9. Banque et Caisse d'Epargne de l'Etat

Country: Luxembourg

Assets: €41.16 billion, or US$46.66 billion 

Fitch: N/R

Moody's: Aa2

S&P: AA+

 



8. Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations

Country: France

Assets: €143 billion, US$162.1 billion

Fitch: AA

Moody's: Aa1

S&P: AA

 



7. NRW.BANK

Country: Germany

Assets: €143.8 billion or US$163 billion

Fitch: AAA

Moody's: Aa1

S&P: AA-

 



6. Nederlandse Waterschapsbank

Country: Netherlands

Assets: €88.25 billions or US$100 billion

Fitch: N/R

Moody's: Aaa

S&P: AA+

 



5. Bank Nederlandse Gemeenten

Country: Netherlands

Assets: €140.2 billion or US$158.95 billion

Fitch: AA+

Moody's: Aaa

S&P: AA+

 



4. L-Bank

Country: Germany

Assets

Fitch: AAA

Moody's: Aaa

S&P: AAA

 



3. Landwirtschaftliche Rentenbank

Country: Germany

Assets: €80.1 billion or US$90.8 billion

Fitch: AAA

Moody's: Aaa

S&P: AAA

 



2. Zürcher Kantonalbank

Country: Switzerland

AssetsCHF158 billion, or US$163.04 billion

Fitch: AAA

Moody's: Aaa

S&P: AAA

 



1. KfW

Country: Germany

Total Assets: €489.1 billion, or US$554.4 billion

Fitch: AAA

Moody's: Aaa

S&P: AAA

 



Make sure to look at the best consumer banks in the world.



What the woman who created the real 'Money Monster' thinks about George Clooney's movie

0
0

susan krakower

Susan Krakower bagged groceries in Queens, New York as a kid before moving to Los Angeles and working in TV trying to learn everything she could possibly know about creating a show.

Those efforts paid off. She created CNBC's first smash hit, 'Mad Money with Jim Cramer' in the 1990s, and then created the 'Fast Money' franchise on CNBC.

And now Julia Roberts has basically played her in a movie.

The movie is called Money Monster. It stars George Clooney as Lee Gates — a fast-talking, Wall Street TV personality who suddenly finds himself in a hostage situation when a viewer who lost his entire savings on one stock enters his TV studio during a live broadcast and holds him at gunpoint.

Roberts plays Gates' producer, Patty Fenn. She steadily guides him from the control room as he wears a explosive vest his attacker had on hand.

"It's crazy to the extent that it infiltrated our culture — a show on a cable network that I created," Krakower said when Business Insider sat down with her earlier this month.

(Note: She had yet to see the movie, and was not consulted on its direction.)

"It's [the hostage situation] not the kind of thing that executives at networks have not thought about ... because it could happen. If your defenses are down for some reason it could happen."

Gates is painted as a charlatan at first (don't worry there's a twist). His captor, Kyle Budwell, invested all of his money in an investment firm called Ibis, in part, because Gates hyped it hard on "Money Monster." Turns out there was shady stuff going on at the company that Gates is forced to uncover under duress, and on live TV.

"It's crazy, but it's a great compliment," Krakower said. "When I got to CNBC... I had come from LA and developing shows, and it was the first time on a network that I was able to create for a news division. And not with an anchor and prompter. I thought: 'Let's create something authentic, with a mission that is to make money.'"

Jim Cramer

The yelling, the rolled up sleeves, the trader speak, the props, the sounds — everything that is associated with 'Mad Money,' was part of Krakower's vision for a show that made you stop and watch when you were scrolling threw the channels.

"Kudos and thank you always to Jeff Zucker," Krakower told Business Insider. "At the time I created the show there was no leadership at CNBC."

Zucker, at the time, was the head of the whole NBC network. After she pitched the idea he sent her an email Krakower used carry in her wallet. It said:  "Congratulations to you, I believe you found CNBC's first hit."

Of course, the movie is darker than that and touches on the main criticism of financial TV. What is the line between education and entertainment?

On that point Krakower pulls no punches. 

"But those people who lost money also made money when the market recovered," she says, "and the whole thesis of capitalism is to have your money work for you. And my thing is everyone's gotta be working, even your money."

wall street week episode oneShe continued:"There are many shows that get it wrong, and many shows that get it right."

"If you look there are disclaimers on these shows. You have to do what's right for you. Do you have $100,000 to play with or $100 to play with?"

Krakower left CNBC in 2014 and is currently keeping it real as head of the media arm of investment firm SkyBridge Capital.

There she helped develop the reboot of news show Wall Street Week, which airs on Fox Business Network.

"Working side by side with Krakower... for the last six years I would say that Susan would remain as cool and collected as Julia did under stress," said Wall Street Week co-host and former CNBC personality Gary Kaminsky.

"But I also think she might've come out of the control room and knocked out the intruder with a fist too."

Krakower says she wouldn't have been in the control room. She used to stand behind the camera motioning at Cramer with as much animation as he motioned to the audience.

That's more her style.

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: WeWork went from a $47 billion valuation to a failed IPO. Here's how the company makes money.

Here's when you should start claiming your Social Security benefits

0
0

There will be roughly 10,000 baby boomers retiring every single day for the next 20 years or so. Entire industries and jobs are going to need to be created for the sole purpose of servicing this group. Healthcare comes to mind, but financial services will be in high demand as well, especially when you consider the number of advisors who are themselves baby boomers who will be retiring in the coming years.

One area that I think would be helpful to retirees is something of an H&R Block type of approach to Social Security benefits. People are generally confused about when to take their social security benefits and what the implications will be if and when they do. There are so many variables to consider when you think about some of the unique situations people deal with:

Should both spouses claim their benefits in the same year or stagger them?

What if you’re still working?

What age gives you the highest benefits?

What happens in a widow(er) situation?

What’s the breakeven if you wait to claim?

What about divorced spousal benefits?

How does social security affect tax planning?

There are a number of variations you could come up with for each individual or couple. Many retirees are going to have trouble figuring out their best course of action.

Obviously, some people won’t really have a choice about when to claim their benefits because Social Security makes up the vast majority of their retirement income, as you can see in this chart from Vanguard:

q3

Over 60% of Americans rely on Social Security to cover 50% or more of their retirement income needs. So if you do have the option to wait to claim your benefits, consider yourself blessed or well-prepared. Lots of people don’t have that option.

Mike Piper, who blogs at The Oblivious Investor, has written a very helpful, accessible book called Social Security Made Simple that does an excellent job of explaining everything you need to know about how it all works and the factors you should consider when making this decision.

For those people who have the ability to wait to claim their benefits, Social Security can provide some pretty decent returns on your money. Here’s a handy chart from Piper that lays this out:

q1

Age 66 is the point where you’ll receive 100% of your benefits, but waiting until age 70 to claim gives you a bump of over 30%. Claim at 62 and you take a 30% discount. Every year you wait corresponds to a roughly 7-8% annual return — not bad in a world of low interest rates.

There are a number of different factors you have to consider when performing a breakeven calculation on something like this, but longevity is probably the main one to consider. Piper explains:

According to the Social Security Administration, the average total life expectancy for a 62-year-old female is 84.7. For a male, it’s 81.8.31 In other words, from a breakeven perspective, most unmarried retirees will be best served by waiting to take their retirement benefit.

Vanguard has a nice visual on the odds here in terms of average retiree lifespan:

Q2

I always think it makes sense to keep your emotions out of financial decisions, but people don’t live their lives in a spreadsheet. The Social Security decision is one of those areas where you have to consider not only your ROI but also the opportunity cost of that capital. In retirement you always have to weigh the costs and benefits of your need for portfolio growth in the future and your desire to enjoy yourself — and your money — in the present.

SEE ALSO: Here are 3 ways your retirement will be different than your parents'

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: We talked to the ‘Most Interesting Man in the World’ about his retirement — here’s what he's most excited about

After over 40 years, the way we use credit cards is about to fundamentally change — and they're getting a new vertical phone-like look to match (PYPL, BAC)

0
0

woman atm credit card

Summary List Placement

Credit card users might soon find their horizontal cards replaced by vertical ones as tap-to-pay continues to gain popularity.

Last week, PayPal joined several other banks in releasing credit and debit cards with vertical designs for its Venmo app.

Daniela Jorge, the Vice President of Design at PayPal, told Bloomberg the company's new vertical orientation was inspired by TikTok and Instagram.

"The world around us is becoming more of the portrait mode and the vertical orientation," Jorge said.

The vertical cards will make for a smoother user experience, as they will mimic how customers typically handle their cards when they either tap to pay or dip the card into the chip reader vertically, according to Jorge.  

Read more: Credit card rewards programs are getting upended as travel grinds to a halt. Here's what Chase and American Express are doing to keep 'top of wallet' status.

Cards with smart chips are used more often than any other type of card. Since the chip technology was adopted in the US in 2015, chip readers and tap-to-pay have gradually grown to replace the need for swiping cards with the magnetic strip on the back. 

Two years after EMV cards were introduced to the US, banks had issued over 855 million chip cards, according to Experian

The pandemic has also helped drive the switch as cards with smart chips decrease check-out time and reduces customer contact with card readers.

PayPal is just one of many companies to move toward a vertical orientation for cards in the past few years. 

See also: A 'coiled spring' is set to unleash massive growth for card giants like Amex, Mastercard, and Visa. Experts explain why the market will take off in 2021.

In 2018, Discovery Bank was one of the first US banks to offer vertical credit cards. In January, Bank of America — the second biggest debit card provider in the US — was one of the first major banks to adopt a debit card with a portrait-style orientation.

In its statement, Bank of America highlighted the advantages of a vertical card, including the speed of tap-to-pay, as well as the increased security of EMV chips.

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Warren Buffett lives in a modest house that's worth .001% of his total wealth





Latest Images