FeedPosted Apr 4th 2011 3:00PM by Connie Madon (RSS feed)
Filed under: Major Movement, International Markets, Bad News, Middle East, Commodities, Oil, Headline News

The
Wall Street Journal posted oil production numbers for March that disclose the shortfall from the Libyan conflict. When the news hit the tape, Brent Crude exploded to the upside trading at $120.17 per barrel, up $1.47 (12:45 EDT.)
Here are the stats:
- OPEC production fell 411,000 barrels per day to 29,343 million bpd.
- Libya's production fell 343,000 barrels per day, from 1,396,000 bpd.
- Nigeria fell 107,000 barrels per day due to Royal Dutch (RDS) Oil maintenance.
To make up for the shortfall, Saudi Arabia increased production by 500,000 barrels per day to 9.05 million bpd. Kuwait upped production by 37,000 barrels per day. Arab Emirates increased their production by 90,000 barrels per day.
Here's the real kicker. OPEC's seaborne exports are expected to fall by 530,000 barrels per day in the next four weeks.
Continue reading Brent Crude Oil Explodes to $120 Per Barrel
Posted Apr 4th 2011 10:00AM by Sheldon Liber (RSS feed)
Filed under: General Electric (GE), Citigroup Inc. (C), Bank of America (BAC), Chevron Corp (CVX), Merck and Co (MRK), Bargain Stocks, Chasing Value™, Oil, Stocks to Buy, Newcastle Investment (NCT), Raytheon Company (RTN), EZCORP (EZPW), Stock Picks, Telefonica SA (TEF), Noble Corporation (NE)

It should surprise no one that oil stocks have taken the lead in the first quarter, while financial stocks -- after a good two-year run -- have been tamed. This is how things have shaped up through the first quarter for my 2011 stock picks. (For a look at my original picks, see here:
part 1, part 2, and
part 3.)
Normally, if I said a business was underwater, investors would think the worst. Actually, in the summer Noble Corp (
NE) was underwater -- and investors were not impressed. However, this was a great buying opportunity, and although the company is still underwater, it is also a market leader among my stock picks and the overall market -- even among oil industry players. With its fleet of 69 offshore drilling rigs, Noble stands tall.
Continue reading Chasing Value: 2011 Stock Picks Q1 Review -- A Platform for Success
Posted Apr 1st 2011 11:00AM by Connie Madon (RSS feed)
Filed under: China, Canada, Oil
There's a big ballyhoo about oil these days. With the turmoil in the Middle East, especially in Libya, the price of West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil is priced over $100 per barrel. Gasoline at the pump is almost $4.00 per gallon.
Why then talk about an oil glut? We should first look at where our oil is coming from. Believe it or not, Canada is the biggest exporter of oil to the U.S. Canada is sending so much oil to the U.S. that our pipelines and storage facilities can't handle it. Reuters reports that our key storage facilities at Cushing Oklahoma are filled to capacity and are not equipped to handle the oil flow.
Continue reading Oil Glut at Cushing Oklahoma Could Last Two Years
Posted Apr 1st 2011 9:00AM by Kevin Kersten (RSS feed)
Filed under: Wal-Mart (WMT), Commodities, Oil
When the CEO of Walmart says that inflation is coming, we best be on the lookout. As head of America's largest retailer, Bill Simon is in a unique place to see inflation traveling all the way through the supply chain.
Walmart's (WMT) advanced computer systems are the some of the largest and most advanced computer systems in the world -- on par with computers the U.S. military uses. Every product and purchase is tracked to get stores resupplied as quickly as possible, usually just in time. As a retailer, Walmart is going to be keeping track of costs and profit margins very closely. Managers all across the company are carefully watching the reports.
Continue reading Is Inflation Here? Walmart Warns of Rising Prices
Posted Mar 31st 2011 12:30PM by Steven Halpern (RSS feed)
Filed under: Newsletters, Schlumberger Limited (SLB), Commodities, Oil, Stocks to Buy
"Schlumberger Limited (SLB) is the world's leading oil services company, assisting in exploration, production and most other oil services; its operations include being a leader in applying proprietary technologies to extract hard-to-extract oil and gas," says Michael Shulman.
The editor of The Short-Side Trader suggests, "Let's ask ourselves the following question: Over the next year is the there going to be more, less or an equal demand for oil? The answer is clearly more demand.
"Another question: Over the next year is there going to be more, less or an equal supply of oil?
Continue reading Schlumberger (SLB): A 'Great Opportunity'
Posted Mar 30th 2011 5:30PM by Jason Raznick (RSS feed)
Filed under: Exxon Mobil (XOM), Russia, BP p.l.c. ADS (BP), Oil
BP's (BP) headache continues over its planned share swap with Russian-owned Rosneft. According to a report from Sky News, the Association of British Insurers (ABI) announced its concerns over the impact of the swap. ABI reportedly controls 10% to 15% of the U.K. stock market.
ABI's reservations also include a Swedish court's decision to block BP's planned venture with Rosneft in the Arctic. Perhaps most concerning of all -- and not just to ABI -- is Wednesday's report announcing that U.S. prosecutors are considering manslaughter charges against BP for its Gulf of Mexico oil spill. Eleven oil workers were killed as a result of the spill.
Continue reading With BP's Problems, Who Enters the Void?
Posted Mar 30th 2011 4:45PM by Trefis (RSS feed)
Filed under: Chevron Corp (CVX), ConocoPhillips (COP), BP p.l.c. ADS (BP), Duke Energy (DUK), Anadarko Petroleum (APC), Oil
Recently Anadarko (APC) has agreed to buy BP's 93% interest in the Wattenberg Plant, located in the northeastern part of Colorado, for about $575 million. Anadarko already owns the remaining interest in the plant.
Anadarko is the largest producer of natural gas in the Wattenberg field and the deal will provide Anadarko with 100% ownership of the plant. The company relies heavily on natural gas, which we estimate accounts for nearly 40% of its stock value. It vies for business with established oil and gas producers like Exxon Mobil, (XOM) ConocoPhillips (COP), Chevron (CVX), BP (BP) and Duke (DUK).
Continue reading Anadarko's Acquisition of BP's Wattenberg Adds to Gas Assets
Posted Mar 29th 2011 12:30PM by Steven Halpern (RSS feed)
Filed under: International Markets, Newsletters, Canada, Commodities, Oil, Agriculture, Stocks to Buy
"Once written off as a 'sunset' industry, North American railroads are making money hand over fist. In short, the railways are benefiting from a rising tide and the companies have a lot going for them," notes Canadian analyst Tom Slee.
The contributing editor with Internet Wealth Builder explains, "Here's a look at my newest recommendation, Canadian Pacific Railway (CP), as well as my long-time favorite, Canadian National Railway (CNI).
"Last year the six major carriers posted a 45% average growth in earnings as they booked increased volumes and increased rates.
Continue reading Canadian Pacific and Canadian National: Riding the Rails
Posted Mar 28th 2011 4:30PM by Jon Ogg (RSS feed)
Filed under: After the Bell, Analyst Reports, Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades, Market Matters, Alcatel-LucentADS (ALU), Japan, Economic Data, Oil, Housing
U.S. markets were mixed most of Monday with what felt like very directionless trading on light volume. A selloff late in the day erased the small gains, and markets closed in the red today.
Another weak housing figure did not manage to cause too much harm as -- by now -- investors are conditioned to expect poor housing data. Consumer spending and income rose in February, topping expectations. U.S. investors also continued to expect that oil infrastructure would keep growing based upon Middle East build-outs for expanded production.
Continue reading Closing Bell: Stocks Give Up Gains (ALU, EBAY, GSIC, FSLR, EWJ, CCJ, PKD)
Posted Mar 24th 2011 1:00PM by Steven Halpern (RSS feed)
Filed under: International Markets, Newsletters, Japan, Commodities, Oil, Stocks to Buy
This post is part of Japan: A Special Report for Investors.
"Uranium and nuclear power stocks are the most directly impacted by events in Japan. In my view, this isn't the time to sell uranium plays," says Elliott Gue, who continues to recommend Cameco Corp. (CCJ), the leading uranium mining company.
The editor of The Energy Strategist explains, "Investors looking for a road map of what's likely to transpire over the next few weeks should recall the Macondo Oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico in late April 2010.
Continue reading Japan: Stay Bullish on Cameco (CCJ)
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