CEO and Chief Investment Officer of U.S. Global Investors

There’s a reason why Dr. Marc Faber has such a large and devoted following–he offers valuable perspective and he does so in a direct and entertaining way in his “Gloom, Doom and Boom Report,” as a member of the esteemed Barron’s Roundtable, and at investment conferences around the globe.

The new World Energy Outlook report from the International Energy Agency doesn’t pull any punches about the state of the industry. “The world’s energy system is at a crossroads,” it begins. “Current global trends in energy supply and consumption are patently unsustainable–environmentally, economically, socially. … What is needed is nothing short of an energy revolution.”

As the final month of 2008 begins, let’s look back at November–a month that featured a number of promising signs that a market recovery could be drawing nearer.

Our investment team travels the globe in search of the vital bits of information that can give us an edge over our competitors. This is the information that can’t be found on a Bloomberg terminal.

If value was based on popularity, gold prices would be through the roof.

If copper prices fall 10 percent in a month, which country takes the biggest hit?

The G-7 are the leading countries is the developed world. The G-20 gives seats at the table to the BRIC countries and other key emerging nations.

Investors are trying to figure out when the market will reach the point of capitulation that may signal that we have finally hit bottom. It’s impossible to know, of course, so that’s why I like to use history as an indicator

I appeared on Bloomberg’s “Final Word” this week to discuss what possible effects China’s stimulus package may have on commodities.

We tip our hat to CLSA Asia-Pacific Markets for the way it has fueled an important global economic debate: How much will China’s GDP grow in 2009?