Oil Prices

The big news so far this earnings season isn’t corporate financial results but the price of oil, which continues to be under pressure. Domestic production has finally caught up to spot prices and combined with reduced expectations for the global economy, oil prices continue to be vulnerable. Resource…

I just filled my gas-guzzling SUV that only uses premium gasoline; trust me when I say it wasn’t pleasant. And I know I will need to visit the gas station again in just a few days. I accept that, but what I don’t understand is the surging increase…

The spot price of oil remains the daily benchmark for the trading action in the stock market. It’s recovered to the $80.00-per-barrel level and is seemingly stuck below the important $100.00-per-barrel mark, as the economy remains in the doldrums. As I’ve written in the past, financial markets need…

In a period of slow economic growth, dividends from equity investments are a big deal. In fact, dividends might be the single most important contributor to equity returns over the next several years. Recently in this column, I wrote about PepsiCo, Inc. (NYSE/PEP) and its excellent long-term track…

Terrible day for the markets yesterday… It all started with June crude oil futures down about $9.00 a barrel, the U.S. dollar up sharply and the precious metals down. June gold futures were down about $34.00 an ounce, bringing the metal back below the $1,500 level. There was…

Oil is surging in the global markets and this has transformed into higher gasoline prices at the pump, which now average over $3.50 per gallon and may be heading higher. Gasoline prices are surging at the pumps. The jump in fuel costs will cut away at the disposable…

— "Profit Confidential" Column, by Michael Lombardi, CFP, MBA, with help from Anthony Jasansky, P. Eng. The reduced demand of a contracting North American economy, mild weather, and rising U.S. production from unconventional sources took a heavy toll on the natural gas market between July 2008 and October…

The basis December light sweet crude on the NYMEX is trading at below $60.00 a barrel and, based on the current trend, it could see a move towards $50.00 a barrel if it cannot rebound back above the previous base formation at around $60.00. Near- to long-term technical…

Everything continues to convulse in capital markets, including currencies, stocks, interest rates, and virtually all commodities. This continued volatility is still a settling of accounts for the major institutions that had spent their time speculating in all these sectors and are now having to readjust their portfolios. More…

I think that total capitulation is almost here. It won't be very long before the heavy selling ends, as a lot of hedge funds have already liquidated some of their riskiest positions. There is the potential for a substantial rally in stock prices over the near term; however,…

The stock market is still trading on the daily price of oil. Everyone I ask thinks that oil will never drop below $100.00 a barrel and most analysts believe that the concept of peak oil production has either elapsed or is imminent. It's funny how one single commodity…

Oil made a downside break below $120.00 in trading on Tuesday, when the light sweet crude for September delivery on the NYMEX retrenched further on demand concerns. The recent weak second-quarter GDP renewed concerns that demand will continue to be hampered. With the decline, oil has fallen about…

The stock market is in a very fragile state right now and any bad news makes all long investors very vulnerable. It's the combination of bad news that's really pulling the broader market down. Despite a little respite, oil prices are back in record territory. Consumer confidence is…

A lot of stocks are coming apart at the seams. Many of what were considered strong stocks in a weak market have been overwhelmed by the terrible performance in the broader market. I can only hope that the bloodletting ends soon. I don't know what to make of…

Well, the stock market isn't looking too hot these days. It looks now that the bear market rally we previously enjoyed is over. Investment risk is substantial in the current market and everyone on Wall Street is just plain anxious about oil prices. This could get worse before…

Negative bias dominated trading last week with the blue-chip DOW declining below minor support at 12,000 intraday on Wednesday and Thursday before rebounding. Selling mounted again on Friday, as the DOW was down to 11,903 in early morning trading. Investor sentiment improved last week, but there remains a…

The price of the July light sweet crude on the New York Mercantile Exchange traded at a record high of $139.89 a barrel on June 16 and came within a whisker of breaking $140.00. Oil prices have since traded down to $132.00 on June 17, but the negative…

Surging oil and gasoline prices continue to be a major risk factor going forward. The price of the July light sweet crude on the New York Mercantile Exchange was at a record high of $139.12 a barrel on June 6, while gasoline prices just surpassed an average of…

The demand for small and fuel-efficient cars have been trending higher in concert with the surging oil prices, which recently traded at just over $135.00 per barrel on May 22. Oil prices are impacting the way consumers think about spending. With the average price of gas at $3.93…

Yes, crude oil prices hit $130.00 U.S. a barrel this morning. But, unlike other market commentators, it is not the price of crude that concerns me; it is the stock market reaction to it, as the market tells us what higher oil prices will mean for the economy…