An in-depth exploration of how breaking news affects investor sentiments and trader decisions—and ultimately the stock market
Glued to their screens for news alerts, financial traders must quickly decipher which ones are most reliable in order to make effective trading decisions. Journalists know that the headlines they craft must instantly grab the attention of a trader.
This book focuses on the relatively unknown "Headlines" desk in newswire services, where journalists type breaking news for subscribers and the public. Drawing on their experiences as former Bloomberg headline writers, Chandran and Lyte reveal the processes of these teams that deftly link the two sides of news: information and interpretation.
The insights this book offers will benefit students of both business journalism and finance, as well as CEOs, corporate communications directors, wealth managers, investors, and traders.
Kavita Chandran has been a financial journalist for more than twenty years in newsrooms across the United States and Asia. She is also a professor of journalism and communications at the SP Jain School of Global Management and Murdoch University in Singapore. Saldene Lyte, a former financial journalist, is now a communications manager and editor at Bank of America.
AcknowledgmentsIntroductionChapter 1: Fastest Fingers FirstChapter 2: NewsmakersChapter 3: Company FinancialsChapter 4: Business Operations and Internal TurmoilChapter 5: Key Performance IndicatorsChapter 6: Mergers, Acquisitions and RestructuringChapter 7: Stock Market and BeyondChapter 8: Shareholder ActivismChapter 9: Economic IndicatorsChapter 10: Inventions and InnovationsChapter 11: Policy, Legislation, and the CourtsChapter 12: Supply Chain and Global TradeChapter 13: Disease, Disaster, DisruptionChapter 14: MilestonesAfterword by Steve SosnickA Note on SourcesNotes IndexAbout the Authors
"In a world where the headlines are no longer just news—theyre the markets pulse—this book provides a roadmap for understanding how the stories we consume shape the financial landscape. If you want to understand the currents beneath the surface of financial reports, this book is an essential guide."—Jelani Cobb, Dean and Henry R. Luce Professor of Journalism, Columbia Journalism School
"Get it first, get it right, explain what it means. Theres no greater thrill than writing market-moving news, but also no greater pressure. This book exposes the mysteries and guides the way through the varied scenarios that confront journalists, split second by split second."—David Schlesinger, former editor-in-chief, Reuters
"How the news works is opaque and confusing. But Headlines That Matter helps demystify and decode it so you can understand and benefit. This meticulously researched book by veteran financial journalists should be in the hands of every CEO, PR person, and investor."—Sree Sreenivasan, former NYC chief digital officer, professor, Columbia Journalism School
"Never before has a book connected the news that moves markets with how that news is created. This book is a must read for anyone who cares about financial journalism and financial markets and how the two intertwine."—Chris Roush, author of The Future of Business Journalism: Why It Matters for Wall Street and Main Street
"Markets move in milliseconds. So must headline writers. Chandran and Lyte capture the frenetic pace of the snappers who translate press releases into market-moving headlines."—Emily Kaiser, former reporter and editor, Reuters
