Record 'optimism gap' highlights conflict between investors and consumers

Ed Carson, news editor at Investor's Business Daily, says the latest IBD/TIPP Economic Optimism Index -- which overall was down again in the facing of concerns about rising inflation -- highlights the difference between investors and non-investors. He noted that the confidence measure showed a record 'optimism gap,' a difference of more than 15 percentage points between the number of positive investors compared to non-investors. Investors haven't just seen their stocks rise, but held more stable jobs and are pleased with the recovery, Carson said, while non-investors remain fearful. Also on the show, Brian Dress of Left Brain Investment Research highlights Crocs, a retail stock he might have ignored if not for the quantitative analysis discipline in the firm's process, author Katrina Dudley discusses 'Undiversified: The Big Gender Short in Investment Management' and how and why an influx of women money managers would be good for the industry and for investors, and Patrick Healy of Caliber Financial Partners talks about stocks and his barbell-approach between growth and value in the Market Call.