Perma Bear or Doctor Doom The Crank Alternative by The Financial Times

Prime time for the ‘crank’ alternative

Phil Davis
Financial Times
Tuesday, Sept 15th, 2009

In the wake of the worst financial crisis in recent memory, is there an opportunity for unconventional schools of thought to force their way into the investing consciousness?

The investment industry is spotted with “cranks” – fund managers, brokers and advisers who distrust the whole structure of the economy and markets and believe that returns can only be made by exploiting the inherent flaws. (They are distinct from the large number of fund managers who adopt “contrarian” market views.)

Some of the “cranks” are given labels such as “perma bear” or “doctor doom” and include investors such as Marc Faber, the late Tony Dye and Nouriel Roubini. Others are simply ignored. Typically, they manage or advise modest amounts of assets and command a niche, but loyal, following. But in the US, in particular, there are some signs that the investment orthodoxy is starting to come under pressure from these outsiders following recent sharp losses in portfolios.

Peter Schiff, of Connecticut-based Euro Pacific Capital, an investment house credited with having predicted the meltdown of the housing and financial markets, is one of the voices bringing pressure to bear. Mr Schiff has become something of a celebrity in the US in recent months in the wake of a number of interviews he gave to CNBC and Fox News in 2006-7.

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