"Nowhere is the supply and demand balance as tight as it is with oil; with the somewhat stronger economy here and abroad, the oil gap is closing again," says Jim Powell.

The editor of Global Changes & Opportunities explains, "I think the best way to benefit from rising oil prices is to buy Exxon Mobil (XOM), the world's largest, and one of its most reliable, energy investments.

"I think the price will reach the psychologically important $100 mark by this summer, and maybe a lot sooner.

"I believe natural gas is the top energy play on the planet; natural gas produces far fewer greenhouse gases than oil or coal, it is easy to transport, and there is a lot of it," says Jim Lowell.

The editor of Global Changes & Opportunities explains, "EnCana (ECA) is my top choice as a natural gas investment. Long-term investors should be well rewarded for buying the stock at its current low price.

"During the past two years, there has been a revolution in the ability to extract natural gas from shale deposits, of which the U.S. and Canada have huge quantities.

"For a pure play in automated and remotely controlled vehicles, consider iRobot (NASDAQ: IRBT)," says Jim Powell. Here's the latest from his Global Changes & Opportunities Report.

"The company is best known for its Roomba vacuum cleaners that wander around the house bumping into everything and setting off security alarms.

"A similar product cleans the surface of swimming pools. iRobot also makes automated mail and product delivery carts for businesses.

"The new administration will likely soon launch a new spending program to put people back to work and boost the economy," says Jim Powell, adding, "That's even more likely now that the financial crisis is in full swing and growth is declining."

In his Global Changes & Opportunities Report he looks at General Cable (NYSE: BGC) as a play on the rebuilding of the nation's electric power grid.

"Politicians at all levels have also voiced strong support for rebuilding our woefully inadequate infrastructure. Because building roads, bridges, electrical grids, and so on, will employ many voters, I think allocations for such projects will go to the top of the government's spending list.

"That's especially true since infrastructure projects will also funnel billions of dollars to state and local governments that are facing hard times. All in all, modernizing the the electric power grid should be another very pro?table long-term investment.

"I believe the most promising beneficiary of the electric power project will be General Cable. The company produces products for a wide variety of applications including large cables for long distribution networks.

"One stock that is holding up well and is poised to do well during hard times is Portfolio Recovery Associates (NASDAQ: PRAA), which is America's most effcient debt recovery company," says Jim Powell in Global Changes & Opportunities Report.

"The company -- which has been on our buy list -- has become especially attractive for the economic conditions I expect to see over the next few months, and probably much longer.

"Portfolio Recovery -- which is America's most efficient debt recovery company -- buys packages of non-performing debts from major credit card companies, and typically pays only 2.6% of the total amount owed. With such a low initial cost, it doesn't take a large collection rate to turn a tidy proft.

"As more consumers default on the colossal debts they ran up during the housing boom, the company should see a great deal of new business.

"As the price of energy soars, I am convinced wealthy countries will turn to the one remaining fossil fuel that is still in abundance: coal," notes growth stock expert Jim Powell.

The editor of Global Changes & Opportunities Report, "Given the high price of oil, the coal-to-liquid fuel industry is starting to take off. One company that should profit handsomely is Headwaters (NYSE: HW)." Here is his review.

"To make coal available for most applications, it must be converted to gasoline and diesel fuel. Fortunately, that process is cost effective when oil costs over $40 a barrel. Since oil is now over twice that price, the coal-to-liquid fuel industry is starting to take off.

"Coal isn't without its critics. When burned, it gives off greenhouse gasses and other pollutants. However, technologies exist that solve those problems. With oil at current levels, it pays to implement the cleanup
processes and put coal to work.

"Headwaters should profit handsomely from the growing demand for coal. The company developed technology that changes the chemical composition of coal into high value products, including petrochemicals that are usually made from oil.