News

Law

Asset Management

Investment Banking

Wealth

Hedge Funds

People

Newsletters

Events

Lists

An Audience With

Short-seller Carson Block joins ESG sceptics by calling green firms ‘hardcore grifters’

The short-seller and fraud hunter discusses ESG ‘grifters’, the meme-stock craze and why China is such a ‘tough place to be short’

Carson Block used to live in China, but was driven out in 2012 — harassed by what he called pro-government “tattooed gangsters” — and moved to set up shop in San Francisco
Carson Block used to live in China, but was driven out in 2012 — harassed by what he called pro-government “tattooed gangsters” — and moved to set up shop in San Francisco Photo: Danilo Agutoli

Short-seller Carson Block made a name for himself more than a decade ago sniffing out suspicious companies and shorting them for profit.

Since he made waves in 2011 with a research report alleging accounting issues at China-based, Canada-listed Sino-Forest, Block, 45, has battled the post-crisis bull market by singling out dud stocks — and has become one of the most notable names in short-selling by racking up some big-name wins in Asia, the US and Europe.

WSJ Logo