Commodity HQ: The Five Minute Guide To Oil ETFs

The world still largely runs on crude oil, and that ever-present demand coupled with erratic shifts in supply, makes it a volatile, liquid, and popular instrument for investors, traders, and speculators alike. Savvy individuals have always had the option to try to play oil prices through the equities of multinational energy companies and/or smaller independent exploration and production (E&P) companies, as well as actual oil futures themselves [see also 25 Ways To Invest In Crude Oil].


These instruments have notable drawbacks, though, including imperfect correlation to actual oil prices (for the energy company stocks) and high margin requirements (for oil futures). Enter oil ETFs. These products give traders many of the advantages of direct investment in oil, but in a vehicle that is much more convenient for the average individual investor [for more commodity news subscribe to our free newsletter].

Please follow this link for more:
http://commodityhq.com/2012/the-five-minute-guide-to-oil-etfs/

If You Can't Beat 'Em, Buy 'Em

Here is today's piece from Investopedia.
http://stocks.investopedia.com/stock-analysis/2010/If-You-Cant-Beat-Em-Buy-Em-XOM-XTO-HAL-RIG-UPL0415.aspx

Interesting coincidence that the APA-ME deal was announced this morning as well, given the theme in this piece.

Although a couple of deals does not necessarily make a trend, investors should get ready for a wave of M&A in the energy sector. We saw the Exxon Mobil (NYSE:XOM) - XTO Energy (NYSE:XTO) deal a few months ago, the deal between Arena Resources (NYSE:ARD) and SandRidge Energy (NYSE:SD)about a week ago and now the announced transaction between Haliburton (NYSE:HAL) and Boots & Coots (AMEX:WEL).

I believe these are just the first moves in a larger trend. With the credit and equity markets a little closer to normal, rising energy prices and increasing pressures on large energy company executives to "do something," merger and acquisition activity is going to look like an increasingly attractive option to many CEOs. 

The rest of the story at: 
http://stocks.investopedia.com/stock-analysis/2010/If-You-Cant-Beat-Em-Buy-Em-XOM-XTO-HAL-RIG-UPL0415.aspx