Inflation spike won’t last, Bernanke says

A recent increase in U.S. inflation is driven primarily by rising commodity prices globally, and is unlikely to persist, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said on Monday. The comments stood in sharp contrast to a string of U.S. central bank officials, some of whom have argued the time is coming for the Fed to begin tightening monetary policy. Earlier... 

Wall Street up on energy shares after Japan quake

Stocks rose on Friday, led by gains in energy shares after Japan’s biggest earthquake on record hurt the country’s oil refining capacity, but trade was choppy as investors tried to weigh the quake’s economic impact. The 8.9 magnitude quake that struck the northeast coast of Japan, the world’s third largest economy, triggered... 

Analysis: Stocks-oil relation looks as it did in 2008 recession

The trading pattern of the prices of stocks and crude oil looks worryingly like it did just before the last recession. Oil and equity prices rise and fall more or less in tandem when demand and economic growth expectations dictate prices. But the short-term relationship has been turned on its head in recent weeks with investors worried that political... 

Moody’s Confirms Nexen’s Investment Grade Credit Rating

Earlier today, Moody’s Investors Service announced the completion of their credit review and confirmed Nexen’s Baa3 rating with a negative outlook. We expect to retain this rating and remove the negative outlook by reducing our debt to levels commensurate with the rating by late this year or early 2012, and retaining sufficient cash to fund... 

As oil muddies outlook, Fed policy less certain

Surging oil prices are deepening a split inside the Federal Reserve, blurring the likely direction of U.S. monetary policy and making next week’s policy meeting all the more contentious. The sharp rise in energy costs, precipitated by a wave of pro-democracy uprisings across the Arab world, could affect the economy in different ways, by retarding... 

U.S. Leads Ranking of Top 25 Countries for Global Biofuels Production Capacity

The U.S. concluded 2010 as the top renewable ethanol producing country, according to the Global Biofuels Outlook to 2020, recently released from Hart Energy Consulting’s Global Biofuels Center (GBC). With more than 51 billion liters (13.47 billion gallons) of ethanol production capacity in operation, the U.S. is by far the leader, with South America’s... 

Egypt unrest may push oil above $110: Kuwait official

Global oil prices could exceed $110 a barrel if political unrest in Egypt continues, a member of Kuwait’s Supreme Petroleum Council said on Sunday. Oil prices have spiked due to tension in Egypt. Brent crude hit $100 per barrel for the first time since 2008 on fears instability could spread through the Middle East, which together with North Africa... 

S&P 500 eyes best week in nine

Stocks were headed for their best week in nine on Friday as the market defied calls for a pullback despite signs of rotation into defensive and lagging sectors that could intensify in coming weeks. Signs of improvement in the economy and strong corporate earnings have propelled stock prices but tapering volume, meager gains and declining numbers of... 

Exxon profit up, tops Street on taxes and output

Exxon Mobil Corp reported a better-than-expected 53 percent increase in quarterly profit, helped by a lower tax rate and a surge in natural gas production in the United States and Qatar. Oil demand rose last year and the U.S. government expects another 1.5 percent gain this year as businesses’ and consumers’ appetite for fuels like diesel... 

Wall Street set to open higher on earnings, M&A

U.S. stocks were set for a higher open on Monday as merger activity and solid earnings, including Exxon Mobil, overshadowed concerns about the possible spread of unrest in Egypt to other parts of the Middle East. Alpha Natural Resources said on Saturday it agreed to a $7.1 billion deal to buy Massey Energy Co, which would create the second largest...