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).

Chevron Corporation (CVX) is one of the largest energy companies in the world, engaging in a variety of businesses like exploration & production of oil and natural gas as well as refining, transportation and trading. The company competes with other established oil producers like ExxonMobil Corporation (XOM), ConocoPhillips (COP), BP (BP) and Anadarko Petroleum Corporation (APC).

Our price estimate for Chevron stands at $104, which is in line with market price.

Time was, independent refiners like Valero Energy Corporation (VLO), first discussed here on April 20, 2009, at a price of $20.08, were in a bind, operationally, due to high oil prices and low gasoline demand that squeezed crack spreads.

But that was a long time ago. Refinery margins, which were squeezed during 2008-2009, due to the loss of more than 8 million jobs from the U.S. economy -- many of those being vehicle owners -- continue to recover. Gasoline demand, in particular, has rebounded: the U.S. will likely see decreased gasoline usage on a per capita basis, as vehicle efficiency improves, but rising vehicle sales stemming from job growth will offset this.

Earlier today, shares of oil behemoth BP plc (BP) slid lower thanks to the shutdown of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System. The shutdown took place on Saturday, as a leak was discovered at the 800-mile network that transports oil across Alaska. BP owns a 47% stake in the pipeline system. Overseas, BP shares finished the day more than 1% lower and are currently mere percentage points lower in American trade.

BP has seen its fair share of problems lately, what with the whole Gulf of Mexico oil spill. In fact, the Oil Spill Commission blamed BP for having "a role in all of the mistakes made at the Macondo well." The pipeline's operator stated that the leak was discovered at 8:15 AM (local time) on Saturday and that the pipeline was shut at 8:50 AM. By 6 AM on Sunday, 90% of the oil had been recovered within the building.

"With a superior dividend yield, reliable cash flows, and great growth prospects Atlantic Power Corp. (AT) is a solid income investment," says income specialist Carla Pasternak.

The editor of High Yield Investing explains, "The company operates 12 hydro, gas, and coal power generating projects in eight states and an 84-mile transmission line in California. It sells power to major electric utilities under long-term purchase agreements, which provide steady and reliable cash flow.

"Earnings were solid in the third quarter. EBITDA rose 15% in the third quarter and 7% in the first nine months of the year compared to the year-ago periods.

Tuesday was a tough day for oil traders, with oil prices falling 3% to a two-week low.

The main thing spooking traders was a report that indicated growth in China was running lower than previously expected.

The Conference Board announced that, when it previously released that China's leading economic indicator rose by 1.7% during April, there was a calculation error. Instead of growing by 1.7% in April, it actually grew by a mere 0.3%.