Everyone is watching the world protest over high food prices. Oil prices are the driving force in the stock market today as the geopolitical events in the Middle East become front and center news. Today spot crude reached $100.00 a barrel before pulling back into the close at the New York Mercantile Exchange. Can the world handle $100.00 crude?
Gasoline and heating oil have really no choice but to increase in price when oil climbs. High energy prices are a direct tax on the U.S. consumer and that can be figured out by my three year old. The big question that we must ask ourselves is when natural gas will finally get the nod as the next big energy choice. This action in oil today is likely going to be the excuse or catalyst that the politicians have been looking for in order to push the natural gas agenda.
Natural gas has been one of the worst performing commodities since the inflation rally began in March 2009. Even today the natural gas futures contract closed at $3.92 which is still near the all time lows. Natural gas is certainly going to have its day in the sun if this type of activity continues in the Middle East and Africa.
Exxon Mobil Corp.(NYSE:XOM) and other leading energy companies have made substantial investments in natural gas over the past year. These companies run the world, they are not stupid. Chesapeake Energy Corp.(NYSE:CHK) stock price is up over 50.0 percent since late August 2010. Devon Energy Corp.(NYSE:DVN) is another leading natural gas stock that is trading at new 2 year highs. Natural gas the commodity must be on the radar now for traders as a long term investment.
Nicholas Santiago
InTheMoneyStocks.com
