CVX

It's too simplistic to value oil company stocks on the price of crude alone. But if oil prices are one marker, oil shares are probably rising too high. Chevron's (CVX) stock is trading at $107. It was only $100 when crude moved above $120 in mid-2008. ConocoPhillips (COP) trades at $81, not far...

Can you profit from the turmoil in the Middle East? Oil is now flirting around $100 a barrel and gold is continuing its upward trend. For investors, this could present an opportunity in oil and gold stocks. Here is the bull and bear take on three stocks that could rise on Mideast unrest.

Stocks fell again on Wednesday, and oil prices briefly crossed the $100-a-barrel mark after violence escalated in Libya. Oil traders are spooked about the possible spread of turmoil. Tech bellwether HP's disappointing outlook also hurt.

With corporate earnings season in full swing -- watch for McDonalds, along with Catepillar, Amazon and other -- and with the Fed meeting on interest rates, the GDP estimate and housing numbers coming out -- the week ahead is expected to be quite busy.

It's been a long time since the DJIA reflected just America's smokestack economy. But today's economic rebound is being led so far by manufacturers. And if you plot those Dow components as a group, you'll see they're leading the larger pack by far.

Wall Street's consensus sees the S&P 500 tacking on an 11% gain over the next 12 months -- with lots of ups and downs along the way. That has us inclined to play defense, with an eye toward bargain stocks paying generous, sustainable dividends. Here are our top 11 picks for 2011.

Stocks fell sharply Tuesday as investors fled riskier assets following an exchange of artillery fire between North and South Korea. Better news on U.S. economic growth was no match for the new worries, on top of Euro-jitters.

The Dow tumbled Tuesday as part of a global sell-off in stocks fueled by further speculation that China will hike interest rates to fight inflation and renewed worries over the wobbly finances of Ireland, Portugal and Greece.

Stocks and commodities fell sharply Friday amid anxiety that China will hike interest rates to keep its economy from overheating. The Dow flirted with a triple-digit loss. Gold and oil prices likewise plunged.

Stocks fell sharply Tuesday after a surprise rate hike from China's central bank and mixed quarterly earnings reports led to heavy selling in technology, materials and energy stocks.