Vaalco (EGY) (SHI) (VLO) (SLB) (BEXP) Trade Mixed as Oil Prices Jump

Most oil and related companies performed strong Monday, as Vaalco Energy (NYSE:EGY), SINOPEC Shangai Petrochemical (NYSE:SHI), Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO), Schlumberger (NYSE:SLB) and Brigham Exploration (NASDAQ:BEXP) traded up as the price of oil rebounded.

Crude oil for June delivery climbed $5.37 to settle at $102.55 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, the largest one-day boost since February 22.

Brent crude for June settlement jumped $6.77, or 6.2 percent, to $115.90 a barrel on the London-based ICE Futures Europe exchange.

Wholesale gasoline prices soared 5 percent on Monday to $3.20 a gallon on fears that refineries in Mississippi may have to shut down because of the Mississippi River flooding.

The average U.S. price of a gallon of regular gasoline Monday fell by a penny to $3.96, according to AAA.

Immediate delivery futures of Texas crude oil rose $5.53 to $102.71 a barrel. Natural gas was up 0.06 cents to $4.17 per mbtu, while gasoline prices fell 20.17 cents to 329.18 cents a gallon.

Brigham Exploration (NASDAQ:BEXP) closed Monday at $29.34, gaining $1.01, or 3.57 percent.