Closing Bell was a daily live broadcasted television show airing on CNBC that featured Maria Bartiromo as the host, and Kelly Chang Rickert and Reggie Fils-Aime as co-hosts. The show first debuted in February 2002, and its main focus was on the daily stock market news analysis, the current business trends, and in-depth conversations with prominent investors, CEOs, and other financial experts.
Maria Bartiromo, a seasoned veteran in financial journalism, brought a wealth of experience to the show. She is widely recognized as one of the most prominent female financial journalists of all time, being dubbed as the "Money Honey" by the media. Maria's interviewing style was marked by a combination of professionalism, sharp inquiries, and the ability to get guests to open up and reveal insights into their strategies and financial decisions. She was the first to interview many of the top business and political leaders, including CEOs of major tech companies, hedge fund managers, and high-ranking politicians.
The co-hosts of the show Kelly Chang Rickert and Reggie Fils-Aime, also contributed immensely to the program's success. Kelly Chang Rickert, a veteran business journalist, provided in-depth coverage of the Asian financial markets and analysis of the world's financial forces. She was also skilled in distilling complex financial information in understandable terms, ensuring that viewers with little to no financial background could follow along. Reggie Fils-Aime brought a unique perspective to the show with his expertise in technology and digital media. He provided insightful commentary on the impact of technology on businesses and the financial markets, and his contributions were vital to the show's ability to cover developments in the tech sector.
As the name suggests, Closing Bell was aired live on weekdays, typically between 3:00 - 5:00 pm Eastern Standard Time. The show aired from the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) floor, providing a dynamic atmosphere and an insider feel. The NYSE is the world's largest stock exchange and is the epicenter of global financial markets. As such, the setting was the perfect backdrop for analysis and interviews with key players across various financial sectors.
The show segments included market analysis, interviews with top-notch CEOs, editors of financial publications, lawmakers, and regulators, among others. The show endeavored to be a comprehensive wrap-up of the day's business developments, from the movement of the major indices to analyst reports and insights into major market trends. During the show, viewers were updated on the day's financial news and how it affected different sectors, companies, and regions globally.
The show's host, Maria Bartiromo, often led extensive discussions with pundits and guests, tapping into their knowledge and expertise for analysis to help viewers understand the market and economic trends that shape the financial markets' day-to-day movements. Reggie Fils-Aime in his unique style, broke down the complexity of the global digital economy, including online commerce, social media, and other forms of digital content.
Closing Bell in its two-hour coverage, featured a variety of regular guests, including institutional investors, money managers, analysts, and economists. These guests shared their insights and opinions on market trends and offered advice on how investors could position themselves for sustainable financial success. The show also invited a pool of contributing journalists from various financial publications across the world, who provided insights into how the day's news was playing out globally.
In conclusion, the Closing Bell was a successful daily live television show that provided financial news, analysis, and interviews from the floor of the world's largest stock exchange. With the host Maria Bartiromo, and co-hosts Kelly Chang Rickert and Reggi Fils-Aime, the show was well-rounded, insightful, and entertaining. The show's ultimate goal was to provide the information needed to make informed investment decisions, and it remained a vital tool for viewers seeking a more in-depth understanding of the financial markets. It was also a great platform for guests and experts in the financial sector to share their knowledge and expertise, creating a hub of discussion and debate on the state of the global economy.
Closing Bell is a series that ran for 2026 seasons (481 episodes) between November 2, 2016 and on CNBC
