Exxon Mobil Corp

It's widely known that millionaires and billionaires pay taxes at a lower rate than those of us who make much less. But did you know that Americans collectively pay far higher income tax rates than many U.S. companies with billions of dollars in profits?

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.

BP has big problems, and not just because of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill and the $20 billion compensation fund it set up to pay the victims. The petro-giant has been missing Wall Street's profit targets lately, thanks to sloppy operations and a general trend toward lower gasoline consumption.

Who says volatility is all bad? The fearfully stumbling stock market means that some excellent stocks are trading at or near fire sale prices. For investors with the patience to wait for the right moment, here are eight companies to keep an eye on -- or to snap up right now.

Gas stations along the Eastern Seaboard experienced high demand Friday and some sold out of fuel as Hurricane Irene bore down and residents scrambled to evacuate. In Norfolk, Va., one Exxon station was sold out by noon and boarded up its windows as attendants readied themselves for the storm.

Following Steve Jobs' announcement late Wednesday that he was resigning as Apple's CEO, the company's stock price swung sharply. But while some investors are selling, others are saying a small drop in prices could make this a great time to buy Apple shares.