Between September 2007 and June 2008, oil prices doubled, gold rose 30% and commodities, in general, advanced by a similar percentage. So why, six months later, when prices have fallen back below last year’s levels, does everybody think they won’t rise again? The difficulties of extraction haven’t gone away, nor have the prospects of increasing consumption in the faster-growing emerging markets such as China. Yes, the prices of commodities are severely affected by marginal moves in supply and demand, but this is ridiculous! Rest assured, commodities prices will rebound in the New Year. The reasons will soon become quite clear. The decline in commodities prices since the summer is broad-based. The Reuters Continuous Commodities Index traded recently at 341, down 25% from a year earlier and off about 45% from its June high. At $48 a barrel, oil is trading at less ...

The U.S. financial-services sector is undergoing the broadest restructuring of a single industry in the history of Corporate America, and Bank of America Corp. (NYSE: BAC) has positioned itself to emerge as one of three clear frontrunners. Indeed, along with Citigroup Inc. (NYSE: C) and JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM), Bank of America could well emerge from this financial maelstrom as one of the premier players on the global stage: All three will benefit from increasing market share and increased financial intermediation margins as their weaker rivals have failed and/or been taken over in part or in total by a stronger industry player. During the many financial crises that I have analyzed around the world, the result has always been the same: The prudently managed, under-levered institutions that did not overstretch their capital bases and that were ...

Track Goldman’s additions to Conviction Buy list at: http://trackthepros.com/stocks/category/930 Goldman Sachs Removed Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) from its Conviction Buy ListOct 2, 2008 09:37AM

Goldman Sachs removed Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. (NYSE: FCX) from its Conviction Buy …

Goldman Sachs Removed Citrix Systems (CTXS) from its Conviction Buy ListOct 2, 2008 07:49AM

Goldman Sachs removed Citrix Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq …

Goldman Sachs Added Suncor Energy (SU) to its Conviction Buy ListOct 2, 2008 07:44AM

Goldman Sachs added Suncor Energy Inc …

Goldman Sachs Removed Community Health Systems (CYH) from its Conviction Buy ListOct 2, 2008 07:41AM

Goldman Sachs removed Community Health Systems, Inc. (NYSE: CYH) …

       ...

Fluor Corporation (FLR) reported a record second quarter earlier this month. Net earnings jumped 119% to $209 million from last yearÂ’s $96 million. The company mentioned that all business segments contributed to this positive result by posting solid growth in profit over last year.

FLR sees higher earnings for the year as does Wall Street

The company also hiked its guidance for the year. “We are encouraged by the strength of our financial results to date, and see substantial opportunity for the balance of the year,” said Chief Financial Officer Mike Steuert. “As a result, we are increasing our full year guidance for Earnings Per Share to a range of $3.65 to $3.80 per share for 2008.” This compares with previous guidance of $3.30 to $3.45 per share after adjusting for a two-for-one stock split that was effective on July 16, 2008.

Analysts responded with higher forecasts. Eight out of 11

...

Suncor Energy, Inc. (SU) saw growth in the second quarter as evidenced by net earnings of $829 million, beating last year’s $738 million. The company’s earnings per share are expected to grow by 10% over the next 3 - 5 years, which is ahead of the industry average of 8%.

Company Description

Suncor Energy is an integrated energy company strategically focused on developing one of the world’s largest petroleum resource basins, Canada’s Athabasca oil sands.

Growth in the Second Quarter

In late July, Suncor posted net earnings of $829 million, beating last year’s $738 million.

The company noted that the growth in earnings was primarily due to improved price realizations on oil sands products as benchmark crude prices rose to historically high levels, and strong results from natural gas operations.

“A combination of a very cold winter, unplanned maintenance issues and tight bitumen supply made for a difficult start to the year,”

...

Suncor Energy Inc. (NYSE:SU) is the world's second-largest oil-sands mining company and its shares are down 30% since late May.  The Masters have gone on and on about the DUG, but the lower SU goes the more tempting it becomes to buy shares.  But when will the pain end for Suncor shareholders? Its great watching oil prices ...

Strong Dollar, Gold gets crushed.  Let it fall, as Yamana (NYSE:AUY) and the other gold stocks fall its even better for when the masses start to cash out of American bucks and U.S. financials then repeat the cycle again. Yamana Gold is almost back to when we called it out as a bounce play on Monday (Yamana Gold (AUY): Bounce Play?), sure enough ...

Below is this week’s list; another week heavily dominated by energy names - natural gas and coal leading the way… as always

Market capitalization of $2B +
Average daily volume 100K+
Stock price $10+
Return past week 8%+

We own names in green; we have owned or discussed names in blue

Symbol
Company Name
% Price 1 Week

CLR
Continental Resources Ord Shs
21.3

WTI
W&T Offshore Inc
20.6

ARG
Airgas Inc
20.2

EAC
Encore Acquisition Co
19.0

GLBL
Global Industries Ltd
17.8

AU
AngloGold Ashanti ADR
17.5

CRK
Comstock Resources Inc
16.9

FTI
FMC Technologies Inc
16.5

ATVI
Activision Inc
16.5

OCR
Omnicare Ord Shs
15.9

PCX
Patriot Coal Corp
15.7

ANR
Alpha Natural Resources Inc
15.7

DRS
DRS Technologies Inc
15.6

OGZPY
Gazprom Rep 4 Ord Shs ADR
15.6

ME
Mariner Energy Ord Shs
15.3

NOV
National Oilwell …