Chesapeake Energy

In contrast to the many U.S. companies we should view with pride, some have behaved in ways that are downright evil. For their exploitative behaviors, these companies (and one whole industry) have earned their seats on the corporate netherworld's board of shame.

Like they say: If you can't beat 'em, join 'em. With the price of home heating oil on the rise, and likely to go on rising due to global politics, now might be a good time to place a bet on oil to hedge against the costs of keeping the homestead warm.

The Egyptian crisis has predictably stirred up energy prices, which are once again on the rise. But regardless of whether oil prices remain sharply volatile, energy stocks deserve high priority in investor portfolios. Here are some possibilities.

To most investors, today's low natural gas prices mean gas producers are to be avoided, but Paul Mecray, managing director of Tower Bridge Advisors, disagrees. He sees a long-term play for patient investors who get in now on the cheap.

The following is a round-up of news likely to affect stock prices today: Novartis (NVS) has raised its stake in eye-care company Alcon (ACL) to 77% by buying Nestlé's majority stake for $28.1 billion, the Swiss drug giant said Monday, and has set its sights on acquiring the rest. Novartis...

Shares of Travelers Cos. (TRV) shot up more than 4 percent in pre-market action after the insurance giant Thursday reported a much higher third quarter profit, earning $935 million, or $1.65 a share. Per-share earnings far exceeded a consensus estimate of $1.30 a share, according to a poll of 15...

In its annual analysis of CEO pay, released today, the Associated Press discovered that two CEOs, Chesapeake Energy (CHK)'s Aubrey McClendon and Motorola (MOT)'s Sanjay Jha, received over $100 million in 2008. In spite of these record paydays, however, median CEO income dropped 7 percent from the...