Crude oil has crept gradually higher since the beginning of the year, with spot prices rising from about $35 per barrel in January to nearly $80 in recent weeks. With a sliding dollar and expectations for a strong, sustainable global economic recovery, it seemed like only a matter of time before crude jumped above $100 and the public outrage was dialed back up. But in recent weeks, crude oil prices have slumped, recently enduring a seven day losing streak that saw futures prices lose more than 5% and hit a new two-month low. [click to continue…]
As the stock market continues to rise, seemingly running ahead of fundamentals, more and more investors are becoming concerned that the stocks are becoming overvalued, and that a downward correction may be just around the corner. While safe haven investments such as the U.S. dollar and gold are popular picks for investors looking to profit [...]
Exxon Mobil, the Texas-based oil giant, reported early Thursday that its second quarter profit fell a larger-than-expected 66% as a result of weak demand, shrinking margins, and lower fuel prices. Excluding one-time items (such as a $140 million charge related to punitive damages in the Exxon Valdez case), earnings fell from $2.27 per share last [...]
