For Global Finance Magazine, my freelance writing includes 2019 Q&As:
FIS Group CEO Tina Byles Williams on China, trade, and recession.
Veridium CEO James Stickland on cybersecurity risks and biometric identification.
While earning a Master's as a Knight-Bagehot Fellow at Columbia University, I traveled with Columbia Business School on a social-enterprise journey across India. I wrote about lessons from the trip and was awarded for my paper, "Enterprising India: Profits and the Poor" (PDF or link.)
For Barron's, my writing guided investors to ideas. Highlights from the Barron's DeFotis search are below. Non-subscribers can read a few pieces before hitting a paywall; clips available upon request.
My final column said EM portfolios need more asset diversification. I also condensed a 30-page thought leadership piece from PGIM on EM megatrends for the next decade.
Still timely: a post on China, trade and Michael Bloomberg.
Something fun: A Penta feature for millionaire collectors on buying exotic antique gold jewelry.
On technology, one of my best calls was the appeal of Microsoft stock, before it quadrupled. I also blogged about Apple and fintech and addressed questions about EM tech euphoria.
On energy, I wrote a number of magazine cover stories. I organized and edited master limited partnership (MLP) roundtables in 2013 and in 2012. Also see Good MLPs On Bad Day. I wrote the energy cover story Investing in Big Oil and features including Oil Price Speculation and Iran Won't Hold Oil Prices Hostage. I also blogged about OPEC's impact on energy markets.
On debt, income, and dividends: Playing EM Bonds, 4 Stable Stocks With Dividends, how QE3 helped some REITs and a data-screen story on 13 dividend payers. After the Friday market close, I was among the first to report on debt rating changes, from Moody's on Brazil and Venezuela, to S&P news.
A Q&A with Jim Dondero, co-founder of Highland Capital Management on hedge funds, credit and equities.
A Q&A on index-beating returns from emerging market bonds with Mike Conelius at T. Rowe Price.
A discussion in 2010 on safety, income, bonds and banks with two portfolio managers: T. Rowe Price CIO Brian Rogers and Marsico Capital's Doug Rao.
On the Great Financial Crisis:
In 2008, pension funding math didn't add up and insiders were selling.
In early 2009, I explained why shares of Chicago's Northern Trust held appeal.
In April 2009 I said the market may have bottomed after a Columbia Business School professor lectured on prayer ("Contemplating Recovery.")
Why some Canadian banks were unfairly punished in the subprime mess.
Citigroup CEO Sandy Weill and others discussed philanthropy and market declines.
In 2010, Charlotte Beyer of IPI noted that wealthy families felt "angst about the next generation."
Profiles and Q&As: I wrote scores of portfolio manager pieces based on my interviews with executives, investors, and market experts. A selection:
Franklin Templeton's Mark Mobius talked in 2013 about China, Africa, smallcaps, and Bitcoin.
Favorite largecaps from Don Yacktman.
I wrote one of the first Q&As with Carson Block, a critic of China's reverse mergers.
RBC Commodity Strategist Helima Croft on oil prices in 2017 and State Department work in Nigeria.
Well-timed emerging market equity ideas unearthed by RBC Portfolio Manager Philippe Langham.
9 Undervalued stocks from around the world from Tocqueville's James Hunt.
After Brexit, 5 multinational picks from Richard Nield at Invesco.
Water-related stock investing ideas from Matt Sheldon at Kleinwort Benson.
Emerging markets columns and blogposts:
ASIA: Popular topics included a column on three Vietnam funds; any Vietnam investing theme; China including Alibaba and co-founder Jack Ma; and Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross on China.
AFRICA: Investing in Africa funds and ETFs and blogposts on Nigeria oil and geopolitics.
GREECE: I said in 2010 that the pain was not over for Greek stocks. Many harrowing debt deadlines later, I suggested tiptoeing back in.
INDIA: I liked India's equity prospects in 2016, explained risks for 2017, and made the case for Infosys shares. I blogged on the US H1-B visa and India's tech workers, and how India's economy needs more working women.
LATIN AMERICA: I explained Argentina's IPO boom and economic reforms, and debt default worries in Venezuela. I covered elections in Brazil and Mexico, and state-controlled oil companies Petrobras and Pemex.
RUSSIA: I warned of risk in 2014. By 2016, I noted improving prospects for a big Russian bank.
SAUDI ARABIA: on Saudi currency remaining pegged to the dollar and 2017 doubts about Aramco's IPO.
TURKEY: I was skeptical about Turkish equities after the 2016 coup attempt despite a pitch from a delegation of Turkish CEOs who visited me and editors at Barron's.
Search Barron's by subject: Dimitra DeFotis, Brazil, Russia, India, China, Mexico, Venezuela, Turkey, Saudi Arabia & Aramco, Greece, H1-B visas, and emerging market ETFs and funds.
Chicago Tribune stories by Dimitra DeFotis:
On immigrants and faith:
An expanding suburban Chicago Hindu house of worship.
The Greek language debate in US Orthodox Christian churches.