As the tumultuous year in the financial markets draws to a close, the nature of the investment debate remains concerned with credit-crisis related matters, and in particular how to navigate global economies out of the morass. A number of the more interesting video clips that have attracted my attention during the past few days are shared below.

Some of my favourites included in this compilation are: “Merrill Lynch – outlook for 2009″ (first one up) and “Charlie Rose: A conversation about economics with Nassim Taleb” (second from top).

CNBC: Merrill Lynch – outlook for 2009
“An economic and investment outlook for 2009, with Merrill Lynch’s Richard Bernstein and David Rosenberg.”

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Source: CNBC, December 11, 2008.

Charlie Rose: A conversation about economics with Nassim Taleb

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Source: Charlie Rose, December 3, 2008.

CNBC: Steve Forbes on the economy
“Insight on the economy, energy policy and the media, with Steve Forbes, Forbes president & CEO, and CNBC’s Larry Kudlow.”

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Source: CNBC, December 11, 2008.

The Wall Street Journal: Reich – best ways to use government funds
“Office of Thrift Supervision director John Reich discusses his thoughts on the best way to use government funds to end the financial crisis. He says government money may be better spent creating jobs than modifying mortgages.”

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Source: The Wall Street Journal, December 9, 2008.

Bloomberg: Galbraith says $900 billion a “floor” for US stimulus
“James Galbraith, an economics professor at the University of Texas in Austin, talks with Bloomberg about the prospects for a US fiscal stimulus plan. More than 150 economists and labor leaders urged President-elect Barack Obama to back a $900 billion stimulus plan, including $225 billion in infrastructure spending and $125 billion in state aid over the next two years. Galbraith, a Democratic Party adviser, United Auto Workers President Ron Gettelfinger and AFL-CIO President John Sweeney are among supporters of the plan.”

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Source: Bloomberg, December 10 2008.

Bloomberg: Lonski says deepest monthly US job losses yet to come
“John Lonski, chief economist at Moody’s Capital Markets Group, talks with Bloomberg about the outlook for the US economy and labor market.”

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Source: Bloomberg, December 11, 2008.

Bloomberg: Interview with Martin Feldstein
“Harvard University professor Feldstein discusses auto bailout, how to fix the housing market as well as Fannie and Freddie, and 3-month T-Bill rates below zero.”

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Source: Bloomberg (via YouTube), December 9, 2008.

Bloomberg: Inside look – housing crisis
“From Housing Forum in Washington D.C.: Interview with PIMCO Managing Director Scott Simon.”

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Source: Bloomberg (via YouTube), December 8, 2008.

Miami Herald: Exec had mortgage racket down to an art
“Orson Benn’s network of mortgage brokers wrote thousands of subprime loans in Miami which have gone into foreclosure.”

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Click here for the article.

Source: Jack Dolan, Matthew Haggman and Rob Barry, Miami Herald, December 6, 2008.

CNBC: Meredith Whitney – outlook grim for banks

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Source: CNBC, December 7, 2008.

John Authers (Financial Times): Bond hindsight
“How could you have made money this year, without taking big risks? With hindsight the answer was: get out of stocks and buy US Treasury bonds.”

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Click here for the article.

Source: John Authers, Financial Times, December 9, 2008.

John Authers (Financial Times): Cautious optimism on equities rally
“This bear market rally could last a bit longer than its predecessors.”

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Click here for the article.

Source: John Authers, Financial Times, December 8, 2008.

John Authers (Financial Times): End of the US dollar rally
“The US dollar’s fall may not be about the end of deleveraging, or a general recovery of risk appetite. Rather, something specific to the US is causing concern.”

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Click here for the article.

Source: John Authers, Marketplace: How credit cards become asset-backed bonds
“Brad Robideau of American Public Media says: ‘I thought your readers might be interested in Marketplace’s latest ‘The Marketplace Whiteboard’ video making the financial crisis easier to understand.’

“Mortgages aren’t the only financial instruments that get turned into securities. In this video, Marketplace Senior Editor Paddy Hirsch explains how companies make money by buying credit card debt and bundling it.’”

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Source: Mark Frauenfelder, Marketplace (via Boing Boing), December 5, 2008.

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