crude oil

Seeing 2 Kinds of Green Amid the Black Gold of Canada's Oil Sands

When it comes to energy, what we desire is a source that's cheap, reliable and clean -- but so far, there's no way to get all three attributes in one abundant source. And nowhere are the trade-offs that surround those competing desires more obvious than in Canada's oil sands.

Wall Street Back in Business After Hurricane Sandy Shutdown

The New York Stock Exchange opened on Wednesday -- because it had to open. In a bit of welcome news for fund managers, investors and even the economy, the company that operates the iconic exchange at 11 Wall Street announced it would not extend its trading shutdown to a third day.

Gold Tops the List of the Fourth Quarter's Likely Winners

Most commodities rallied in the third quarter, but can they hold on to their advance? Read on, and find out which ones still have legs to dance their way higher, and which are poised to take a tumble. The short answer to that from analysts is that gold and oil are likely to advance, while grains and sugar are among those that probably won't, but there will be a lot of different factors to consider.

Oil Rises on Bullish US Manufacturing Data

The price of oil is climbing on reports that U.S. factories have cranked into a higher gear. Benchmark U.S. crude increased Monday by $1.07 to $104.09 per barrel in New York while Brent crude rose by 68 cents to $123.56 per barrel in London.

Oil Near $106 as US Denies Plan to Release Crude

Oil prices rose slightly to near $106 a barrel Friday in Asia after the U.S. denied reports it and Britain plan to release some their strategic crude reserves. Benchmark oil for April delivery was up 40 cents to $105.51 at late afternoon Singapore time in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract fell 32 cents to settle at $105.11 per barrel in New York on Thursday. Brent crude for May delivery was up 55 cents at $123.15 per barrel in London.

3 Reasons Oil Prices Are Headed Higher in 2012

Americans have grown used to oil at $100 a barrel and paying more than $3 per gallon for gas at the pump. But don't get too comfy -- the price of filling up is probably going up in 2012.

Western Refining Has Slick Profit Potential

During most of June, Western Refining followed the rest of the market down, dipping as much as 16.5%. However, its shares have since perked up -- and they have much farther to rise. The refiner is in a prime position to take advantage of a wide spread between the price of crude oil and gasoline.

Oil Falls as Worries About Europe Debt Crisis Continue

Concerns about the European financial crisis are still dragging down the price of oil. Benchmark crude for July delivery fell 32 cents to $92.69 per barrel in Monday midday trading. All eyes remain on Greece, which is trying to implement tough new austerity measures necessary to keep international aid coming.

3 Firms Charged With Oil Price Manipulation

A manipulative scheme that made unlawful profits on the price of crude oil was flagged in a complaint Tuesday by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, a sign that the regulator is cracking down on potential speculation in energy markets.

Why $4 a Gallon Gas Wouldn't Last Long

Not long ago, everyone knew gas was sure to reach $4 a gallon for regular on a nationwide basis soon. Now, though, that sure thing is looking iffy: Gas prices are wavering, and a number of factors at home and abroad are about to come together to push demand -- and prices -- lower.

With Big Oil Stocks Riding High, It's Time to Take Profits

Exxon Mobil, Chevron and ConocoPhillips are all trading near multi-year highs, and even BP shares have done well recently. Still, while the high oil prices that have been pinching consumers have been great for the industry, there are good reasons not to count on those high stock values lasting.

This IPO Could Be The Next Exxon Mobil

Biofuels company Solazyme owns a unique process when it comes to converting algae into a fuel could replace the gas in your car -- a method that could be used to create oil on an extremely large scale and at an extremely low cost. The company has just announced it's going public: You might want to get in on the action.

Will Saudi Arabia's Gambit Drive Oil Prices Even Higher?

Saudi Arabian Oil Minister Ali al-Naimi said his country cut oil production in March because the market was oversupplied. Was this move an honest bid to a bid to expose the speculators and push prices back down, or an attempt to capitalize on the current instability to propel prices higher?

The Fix for High Oil Prices? Regulate the Speculators

As the crisis in Libya continues to shake world oil markets, many voices are calling for President Obama to tap into the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. With gasoline prices up 33 cents a gallon in the last month, that's a tempting idea. It's also the wrong one.

Just What Detroit's Revival Doesn't Need Now

As in the summer of 2008, when prices broke $4 a gallon, big jumps at the gas pump may give car buyers reason to pause and cause vehicle sales to stall. At least the carmakers now have more fuel-efficient fleets, except for Chrysler, which is still catching up.

Libya Isn't the Only Force Working Against Stocks

With Mideast turmoil chasing oil higher and stocks lower, it's a good time to check the charts and see what price levels seem to be key "lines in the sand." Some indicators have been warning for months that the steep rally was preparing to reverse.

Higher Pump Prices? Yes.
But Not $5 a Gallon

Americans could see gasoline spiking 10% to 18% higher in coming weeks as a result of the unrest in the Middle East, but they're unlikely to rocket as high as some are predicting -- unless the uprisings spread to Saudi Arabia. In that case, all bets are off.

Leaping Oil Prices May Call for Emergency Measures

Worried about the sharp shock political unrest is giving to crude oil prices, international officials said oil-consuming nations have emergency reserves they can use to stabilize markets in case the violence in Libya and the wider Middle East escalates and crimps production.

High Heating Oil Prices Continue to Drain Wallets

Winter in the Northeast was particularly brutal this year, but not enough to account for the likely record prices. Blame crude oil's recent price jump for that. But the chills could become even worse if Obama's proposed cut in low-income energy subsidies passes.

Oil Prices Are Likely to Drop Before They Rally Again

With an oversupply of oil on the market and OPEC afraid that higher prices will impair the U.S. recovery and sap demand, the fundamentals point to an oil price drop in the near term. Yes, markets move on emotion, and fears about unrest in Egypt have reversed that downward price trend, but the drop is probably coming.

Marathon Oil to Spin Off Its Refining Business

Marathon Oil, the fifth-largest oil refiner in the U.S., is spinning off its refining business into a new company called Marathon Petroleum. Marathon Oil, meanwhile, will reduce its debt as a result of the move and will focus on oil exploration and production.

How to Cope With Rising Gasoline Prices

The U.S. started 2011 with the highest gas prices ever for January. That doesn't bode well for the coming months, but the sky isn't falling. Here's what you can do about those higher fuel costs, including how to make investments that will profit from them.

Oil Prices Gush to Two-Year High

Oil prices touched a two-year high Monday on tighter inventory and expectations that a U.S. economic growth spurt will boost demand this year. Some analysts predict prices could soon gush to $100 per barrel.

Gasoline Tops $3 a Gallon for First Time at Christmas

It may be the happiest season of the year, but higher crude oil prices that have translated into higher gasoline prices have many motorists frowning. The weak U.S. dollar and expectations of a more robust economic recovery in the coming year have helped push oil to over $90 a barrel.

Gasoline: $3 by Christmas and Worse in Spring?

The U.S. has never had $3 gas at Christmastime because the price typically gets lower as the days grow shorter. This year may be quite different, thanks to events from Canada to China. And some analysts think prices will really heat up in spring.

Climbing Oil Prices Threaten Economic Recovery

Light crude oil prices have been climbing in the last few days, closing the week at $88.94 per barrel on the NYMEX. If prices climb high enough, it could damage the still-weak economy by raising the costs of gasoline, jet fuel and petroleum-based chemicals. How high is too high?