US authorities are in full socialization mode, where the capitalist model is being thrown out of the window. Look at the actions, not the words. The more irresponsible a company or individual has been during the past 10 years, the better its chances of being saved. Even the grotesque US automakers will be bailed out, for the nth time.

Vital resource stocks have been pounded during the financial crisis. Some of the losses have come from the liquidation of positions investors piled into—including hedge funds—on the way up. Some have been a result of the current surge of the US dollar, which--in turn--has been due in part to the so-called flight to quality and unwinding of the “carry trade” by large institutions. And some of the losses have been due simply to worries that the liquidity crisis would trigger a steep global recession.

Learn what one of the world's top scientist has to say about thin film photovoltaics and what you can expect in coming years.

I recently spoke with Louis Rukeyser's Mutual Funds (LRMF) newsletter editor Benjamin Shepherd regarding the present state of investing in Asia and the future prospects of the region as an investment destination going forward. The full interview follows:

This year marks the most critical sequence of events in financial history. We’re witnessing the greatest shock to the system. There’s no way to be sure of the final outcome yet, but the world will certainly be a different place after all is said and done.

As I browsed Lehman Brothers’ Web site a few days ago, I came across fertile material for fans of irony: “The history of Lehman Brothers parallels the growth of the United States and its energetic drive toward prosperity and international prominence.”

In August 2006, New York University economist Nouriel Roubini predicted a subprime crisis and subsequent recession. In September of that year, he burdened a gathering of the International Monetary Fund with his bearishness. And Roubini was profiled in a recent New York Times Magazine feature headlined “Dr. Doom.”

Following is an excerpt from a recent company press release.

We’re still far off recent highs, and plenty of risk remains, but the Asian rally is still running strong.

Plenty of supposed smart-money players have ignored China’s instructive trends.