Recession Naysayers Hold Out

Taking a contrarian view can be a grizzly experience.

It is for MKM Partners' economist Michael Darda, who believes all the recent hype in the markets about a recession is overblown. Darda, a frequent business television guest, appeared on CNBC Jan. 2 sporting a new beard. Darda told TheStreet.com that he will not shave the beard "until the recession talk ends or housing recovers, whichever comes first."

Darda is a member of a small and increasingly frustrated crew of economists and market strategists who refuse to jump onto the recession bandwagon, despite its increasing popularity. ...