Intel (INTC) (XIDE) (ZOLT) (APC) (BEXP) (KNX) Upgraded

Intel (NASDAQ: INTC), Exide Technologies (NASDAQ: XIDE), Zoltek Companies, Inc. (NASDAQ: ZOLT), Anadarko Petroleum (NYSE: APC), Brigham Exploration (NASDAQ: BEXP) and Knight Transportation (NYSE: KNX) upgraded by analysts.

Exide Technologies (XIDE) was upgraded by Wedbush from an “Underperform” rating to a “Neutral” rating. They have a price target of $6.00 on the company, down from $7.00.

Zoltek Companies, Inc. (ZOLT) was upgraded by Dougherty & Co. from a “Neutral” rating to a “Buy” rating. They have a price target of $9.00 on the company, down from $12.00.

Anadarko Petroleum (APC) was upgraded by Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) from a “Neutral” rating to a “Buy” rating. They cited valuation as the catalyst behind their call.

Brigham Exploration (BEXP) was upgraded by Stifel Nicolaus from a “Hold” rating to a “Buy” rating. They have a price target of $35.00 on the company. They cited valuation as the catalyst behind their call.

Knight Transportation (KNX) was upgraded by Capstone from a “Hold” rating to a “Buy” rating.

Intel (INTC) was upgraded by Barclays Capital from an “Equal Weight” rating to an “Overweight” rating. They have a price target of $26.00 on the company.

First Solar (FSLR) (VMW) (WLK) (BEXP) (MOS) (CHKP) Upgraded

First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ: FSLR), VMware, Inc. (NYSE: VMW), Westlake Chemical Corp (NYSE: WLK), Brigham Exploration (NASDAQ: BEXP), The Mosaic Company (NYSE: MOS) and Check Point Software (NASDAQ: CHKP) upgraded by analysts.

First Solar, Inc. (FSLR) was upgraded by Jefferies (NYSE:JEF) from a “Hold” rating to a “Buy” rating. They have a price target of $132.00 on the company.

VMware, Inc. (VMW) was upgraded by FBR Capital from a “Market Perform” rating to an “Outperform” rating.

Westlake Chemical Corp. (WLK) was upgraded by UBS AG (NYSE:UBS) from a “Sell” rating to a “Neutral” rating. They have a price target of $41.00 on the company, down from $50.00. They cited valuation as the catalyst behind the call.

Brigham Exploration (BEXP) was upgraded by FBR Capital from a “Market Perform” rating to an “Outperform” rating. They have a price target of $40.00 on the company.

The Mosaic Company (MOS) was upgraded by Ticonderoga from a “Neutral” rating to a “Buy” rating. They have a price target of $80.00 on the company.

Check Point Software (CHKP) was upgraded by Macquarie from a “Neutral” rating to an “Outperform” rating. They have a price target of $59.00 on the company.

Schlumberger (SLB) (HK) (BEXP) (BHI) (VLO) Close Up While Oil Drops

Schlumberger (NYSE:SLB), Petrohawk Energy Corp. (NYSE:HK), Brigham Exploration (NASDAQ:BEXP), Baker Hughes Incorporated (NYSE:BHI) and Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) ended the session up Thursday, going against the tide of oil futures dropping after rising over $101 a barrel on Wednesday.

The economy of Barack Obama continues to fall apart as first-time unemployment claims soared by another 10,000, exploding past the projected decline of 4,000 economists had been loking for. That's a seasonally adjusted 424,000 for the week ended May 21.

The U.S. economy growth rate was also below expectations, increasing at a very anemic 1.8 percent rate in the first quarter, plunging from the 3.1 percent growth rate in the fourth quarter, and missing the 2.2 percent growth rate economists had estimated.

The U.S. Labor Department also upwardly revised initial unemployment claims from the last report they issued.

This all had an impact on oil prices, as oil futures ended lower on the day. Light, sweet crude for July delivery settled down $1.09, or 1.1 percent, to $100.23 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Brent crude on the ICE futures exchange settled up 12 cents, or 0.1 percent, to $115.05 a barrel.

Front-month June reformulated gasoline blendstock, settled up 3.21 cents, or 1.1 percent, to $3.0483 a gallon. June heating oil was up 0.26 cent, or 0.1 percent, to $2.9829 a gallon.

With the Memorial Day weekend coming in the U.S., which usually involves significant travel and gasoline used in vehicles, it probably went against the slightly lower price of oil and gas heading into the summer season.

Valero Energy closed Thursday at $26.42, gaining $0.16, or 0.61 percent. Baker Hughes Incorporated ended the day at $74.50, jumping $0.72, or 0.98 percent. Brigham Exploration closed at $30.77, climbing $0.40, or 1.32 percent. Petrohawk Energy Corp. ended the session at $25.76, up $0.16, or 0.62 percent. Schlumberger closed the day at $85.19, rising $1.10, or 1.31 percent.

Whiting (WLL) (BEXP) (KOG) (NOG) (STR) Trading Up

Shares of Whiting Petroleum (NYSE:WLL), Brigham Exploration (NASDAQ:BEXP), Kodiak Oil & Gas (Amex:KOG), Northern Oil and Gas (Amex:NOG) and Questar Corporation (NYSE:STR) were trading up today as oil prices rebounded later in the session.

The expiring U.S. June crude contract was up 98 cents to $99.42 a barrel, after falling as low as $95.99.

U.S. July crude climbed $1 to $99.93, bouncing back after falling to $96.35.

Shares of oil companies like BP (NYSE:BP), Anadarko (NYSE:APC), Transocean and Cameron International (NYSE:CAM), all of which were connected to the Gulf oil spill, were all trading up on news of the settlement between BP and Macondo Well partner Mitsui (OTC:MITSY).

Questar Corporation (STR) was trading at $17.49, gaining $0.11, or 0.60 percent, as of 2:40 PM EDT. Northern Oil and Gas (NOG) was at $20.93, up $0.64, or 3.15 percent. Kodiak Oil & Gas (KOG) was trading at $6.39, up $0.03, or 0.55 percent. Brigham Exploration (BEXP) was at $30.04, gaining $1.01, or 3.48 percent. Whiting Petroleum (WLL) was trading at $65.03, gaining $1.29, or 2.02 percent.

Brigham (BEXP) (BOLT) (FTK) (STR) (PTR) Trade Mixed as Energy Falls

Shares of Brigham Exploration (NASDAQ:BEXP), Bolt Technology Corp. (NASDAQ:BOLT), Flotek Industries, Inc. (NYSE:FTK), Questar Corporation (NYSE:STR) and PetroChina (NYSE:PTR) traded mixed on Thursday as oil and gas were down on the day.

Benchmark crude for June delivery fell $1.63 to settle at $98.93 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

Brent crude oil for July delivery was down 23 cents, or 0.2 percent, to $112.07.

June, heating oil fell 1.12 cents to settle at $2.8947 a gallon, gasoline dropped 2.95 cents to $2.926 a gallon and natural gas fell 10.5 cents to $4.161 per 1,000 cubic feet.

Linn Energy, LLC (LINE) closed Thursday at $38.35, gaining $0.33, or 0.87 percent. Lufkin Industries, Inc. (LUFK) ended the session at $85.06, up $1.81, or 2.17 percent.

Brigham Exploration (BEXP) closed Thursday at $29.03, gaining $0.06, or 0.21 percent. Flotek Industries, Inc. (FTK) closed at $8.29, gaining $0.11, or 1.34 percent.

Brigham (BEXP) (ECA) (TSO) (DVN) (HES) Up on Lower Gas Inventory

Shares of oil companies Brigham Exploration (NASDAQ:BEXP), Encana Corp. (NYSE:ECA), Tesoro Corporation (NYSE:TSO), Devon Energy (NYSE:DVN) and Hess Corporation (NYSE:HES) were trading up today after a report from the Energy Information Administration saying gas inventory was up less than expected and oil inventory was flat.

Light, sweet crude West Texas Intermediate oil for June delivery is up $3.61 to $100.52 a barrel on the Nymex.

Brent crude July contracts rose $2.74 to $112.73 a barrel.

This could be an indicator that refinery demand may possibly be on the rebound.

MF Global wrote in a note to clients, “We think oil prices will continue to erode and we still think $90 is a reasonable short-term target on WTI, although short-term, we are getting a tad oversold and may be in for a bounce here.”

Brigham Exploration (BEXP) was trading at $29.03, up $1.58, or 5.76 percent. Encana Corp. (ECA) was at $32.77, gaining $0.33, or 1.02 percent. Tesoro Corporation (TSO) was trading at $24.23, rising $0.82, or 3.48 percent. Hess Corporation (HES) was trading at $76.84, jumping $1.38, or 1.83 percent. Devon Energy (DVN) was at $82.80, up $0.98, or 1.20 percent.

Ratings on (AMZN) (BA) (BEXP) (CRNT) (CSA) Reiterated

Ratings on Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), Boeing Company (NYSE: BA), Brigham Exploration (NASDAQ: BEXP), Ceragon Networks Ltd. (NASDAQ: CRNT) and Cogdell Spencer Inc (NYSE: CSA) reiterated by analysts.

Benchmark Co. placed a price target of $212.00 on Amazon.com, Inc. (AMZN). They have a “buy” rating on the company.

EarlyBird Capital reiterated a “buy” rating on The Boeing Company (BA). They have a price target of $90.00 on the company.

BMC Equities Research reiterated a “buy” rating on Cogdell Spencer Inc (CSA). They have a price target of $19.00 on the company.

Global Hunter Securities reiterated an “accumulate” rating on Brigham Exploration (BEXP).

Hudson Securities reiterated a “buy” rating on Ceragon Networks Ltd. (CRNT).

Brigham Exploration (BEXP) Trades Down as Oil Prices Drop

Brigham Exploration (NASDAQ:BEXP) was under pressure as oil as gas prices fell Wednesday, dragging most of the energy companies down with them.

Brent crude settled down $5.06 at $112.57 a barrel, while U.S. crude futures dropped $5.67 to settle at $98.21.

Natural gas for June delivery settled 6.5 cents, or 1.5%, lower, at $4.181 per million British thermal units on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

The U.S. Oil Fund (USO) dropped 4.2 percent to closed at $39.35, the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) was down 2.9 percent to close at $74.28, and the U.S. gasoline fund LP (UGA) plunged 6.4 percent to close at $51.44.

Brigham Exploration Company participates in the exploration, development, and production of onshore oil and natural gas reserves in the United States.

Brigham Exploration (BEXP) closed Wednesday at $28.11, down $1.60, or 5.39 percent.

Ratings on (ADI) (ALXN) (AMD) (ANF) (BEXP) Reiterated

Ratings on Analog Devices, Inc. (NYSE: ADI), Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: ALXN), Advanced Micro Devices (NYSE: AMD), Abercrombie & Fitch (NYSE: ANF) and Brigham Exploration (NASDAQ: BEXP) were reiterated by analysts.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) reiterated an “overweight” rating on Analog Devices, Inc. (ADI).

Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) reiterated a “buy” rating on Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (ALXN). They have a price target of $112.00 on the company.

Sterne Agee reiterated a “buy” rating on Advanced Micro Devices (AMD). They have a price target of $15.00 on the company.

Piper Jaffray (NYSE:PJC) reiterated an “overweight” rating on Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF). They have a price target of $85.00 on the company.

Global Hunter Securities reiterated an “accumulate” rating on Brigham Exploration (BEXP).

Cameron (CAM) (WTI) (CLR) (CWEI) (BEXP) Trade Mixed as Oil Prices Rebounded

Shares of Cameron International (NYSE:CAM), W&T Offshore (NYSE:WTI), Continental Resources (NYSE:CLR), Clayton Williams Energy (NASDAQ:CWEI) and Brigham Exploration (NASDAQ:BEXP) traded mixed even as oil prices closed Friday in positive territory.

On the New York Mercantile Exchange, crude for June delivery on Friday settled at $99.65 a barrel, up 68 cents, or 0.69 percent, after trading in a range of $97.09 to $100.70.

For the week, front-month crude climbed $2.47, or 2.5 percent.

ICE Brent for June delivery settled at $113.83 a barrel, up 85 cents, or 0.75 percent, after trading in a range of $111.72 to $114.92. The Brent crude contract for July delivery was at 66 cents, or 0.6 percent higher on Friday, at $112.99. Last week, Brent crude jumped $4.70, or 4.3 percent.

The U.S. dollar index was up 0.8 percent higher at $75.72 as the euro was down 1 percent against the dollar at $1.411. On Friday, European officials said that Greece, Ireland and Portugal's sovereign debt problems may be worse than previously believed.

NYMEX June gasoline settled at $3.0744 a gallon, up 1.05 cents, or 0.34 percent, after trading in a range of $3.0342 to $3.1388.

For the week, front-month RBOB fell 1.57 cents, or 0.5 percent.

NYMEX June heating oil closed at $2.9422 a gallon, rising 2.85 cents, or 1 percent.

Front-month heating oil for last week was up 9.65 cents.

Cameron International (CAM) closed Friday at $49.65, gaining $0.82, or 1.68 percent.

Brigham (BEXP) (WLL) (WTI) (DRQ) (HAL) Trade Positive as Oil, Gas Rise

Crude oil, natural gas and gasoline prices jumped Tuesday, pushing up the share prices of Brigham Exploration (NASDAQ:BEXP), Whiting Petroleum (NYSE:WLL), W&T Offshore (NYSE:WTI), Dril-Quip, Inc. (NYSE:DRQ) and Halliburton (NYSE:HAL).

Benchmark crude for May delivery rose $1.33 to settle at $103.88 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

Heating oil jumped 3.94 cents to settle at $3.0012 a gallon. Gasoline futures climbed 10.13 cents to settle at $3.3797 a gallon, while natural gas for June delivery increased 8.7 cents to settle at $4.303 per 1,000 cubic feet.

Uncertainty remains as to the effects of the flooding along the Mississippi River could have on regional refinery operations, which could slow down gasoline production and put upward pressure on prices.

Dril-Quip, Inc. (DRQ) closed at $69.67, up $1.67, or 2.46 percent.

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.

Shares of (TSO) (VLO) (BEXP) (CWEI) Trade Up as Oil Closed Down 15% Last Week

Companies exposed to oil and the industry traded mixed to end the week, as oil prices plummeted 15 percent last week, taking Tesoro Corporation (NYSE:TSO), Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO), Brigham Exploration (NASDAQ:BEXP), Clayton Williams Energy (NASDAQ:CWEI), and others, down with it, although all those listed here closed Friday in positive territory.

Light, sweet crude oil for June delivery on the New York Mercantile Exchange dropped $2.62 to settle at $97.18 a barrel, matching the eight-week low of March 15. The U.S. Oil Fund (USO) closed down 1.1 percent on Friday.

For the week, the June oil futures contract fell 14.7 percent to $113.93.

Light, sweet crude for June delivery fell $2.62, or 2.6%, to close at $97.18 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

In London, Brent crude finished the day off $1.67 at $109.13 per barrel on the ICE Futures exchange.

Republicans went on the offensive against higher oil and gas prices by passing a bill to hasten the leasing process dragging on in the Gulf of Mexico as the Obama administration drag their feet on taking action. The bill would also require leasing to be allowed off the coast of Virginia.

According to Rep. Michael Burgess (R-Texas), the bill helped push down the price of oil as it sent a message to the market they're serious about the future supply.

All Obama has done so far has obsessed on the fantasy of green, clean or so-called alternative energy; a dubious matter at best, and at worst, ignoring what they country needs now and is available to it.

In other Nymex trading for June contracts, heating oil fell 4.12 cents to $2.8457 a U.S. gallon and gasoline futures were down 0.53 cents to $3.0901 a U.S. gallon. Natural gas fell 3.4 cents to $4.297 per 1,000 cubic feet.

Brigham Exploration (BEXP) closed Friday at $28.33, jumping $0.74, or 2.68 percent.

Brigham (BEXP) (BOLT) (GEOI) (PTR) (XOM) Pressured as Oil Tumbles

Shares of oil and oil-related companies Brigham Exploration (NASDAQ:BEXP), Bolt Technology Corp. (NASDAQ:BOLT), GeoResources (NASDAQ:GEOI), PetroChina (NYSE:PTR) and Exxon Mobil (NYSE:XOM) were pressured Thursday as crude for June delivery dropped below the $100 a barrel mark.

Crude oil for June delivery was down $9.44, or 8.6 percent, to $99.80 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The price has fallen 12 percent so far this week, declining every day of the week. Crude has soared 25 percent over the last year.

Gasoline for May delivery was down 22.71 cents, or 6.8 percent, to $3.0954 a gallon on the Nymex, the lowest settlement in five weeks. Gasoline has jumped 39 percent in a year.

Averaged across the nation, regular gasoline at the pump increased 0.3 cent to $3.985 a gallon on Wednesday, according to the website of AAA. That's highest price of gasoline since July 24, 2008.

Heating oil for May delivery was down 25.61 cents, or 8.1 percent, to $2.8869 a gallon on the Nymex. Heating oil has climbed 32 percent over the last year.

The New York Mercantile Exchange reported that oil futures settled at $99.80, down $9.44 or 8.6 percent on Thursday.

Government figures show gasoline demand in America has dropped about 2 percent over the last month, which added to rises in inventory, should push gasoline prices down again.

Brigham Exploration (BEXP) closed Thursday at $27.59, dropping $0.91, or 3.19 percent.

Ratings on (ASI) (BEXP) (CIM) (CLH) (FMC) Reiterated by Analysts

Ratings on American Safety Insurance Holdings, Ltd. (NYSE: ASI), Brigham Exploration (NASDAQ: BEXP), Chimera Investment Co. (NYSE: CIM), Clean Harbors, Inc. (NYSE: CLH) and FMC Corp. (NYSE: FMC) were reiterated by analysts today.

Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc reiterated an “outperform” rating on American Safety Insurance Holdings, Ltd. (ASI).

Jefferies (NYSE:JEF) reiterated a “buy” rating on Brigham Exploration (BEXP).

Wunderlich reiterated a “hold” rating on Chimera Investment Co. (CIM).

Wunderlich reiterated a “buy” rating on Clean Harbors, Inc. (CLH).

Gabelli reiterated a “buy” rating on shares of FMC Corp. (FMC).

Ratings of (ABFS) (ANFGY) (ATW) (BEBE) (BEXP) Upgraded by Analysts

Analysts upgraded Arkansas Best Corp (NASDAQ: ABFS), Antofagasta plc (NASDAQ: ANFGY), Atwood Oceanics, Inc. (NYSE: ATW), bebe Stores (NASDAQ: BEBE), Brigham Exploration (NASDAQ: BEXP) today.

Citigroup (NYSE:C) upgraded Arkansas Best Corp (ABFS) from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating. They have a price target of $28.00 on the company, up from $26.00.

Deutsche Bank (NYSE:DB) upgraded Antofagasta plc (ANFGY) from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating.

Duncan Williams upgraded Atwood Oceanics, Inc. (ATW) from a “reduce” rating to a “strong buy” rating. They have a price target of $60.75 on the company.

Wedbush upgraded bebe stores (BEBE) from an “underperform” rating to an “outperform” rating. They have a price target of $8.00 on the company, up from $5.50.

MKM Partners upgraded Brigham Exploration (BEXP) from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating. They have a price target $41.00 on the company.

Chevron (CVX) (CHK) (BEXP) (CRZO) (HNR) Trade Down on Slowing Oil Demand

Oil companies and other industry-related companies Chesapeake Energy Corp. (NYSE:CHK), Brigham Exploration (NASDAQ:BEXP), Carrizo Oil & Gas (NASDAQ:CRZO), Harvest Natural Resources (NYSE:HNR) and Chevron (NYSE:CVX) all closed down Wednesday as oil prices took a breather.

Oil prices dropped after a government report showed that inventories are growing as demand softens in the U.S. Benchmark crude for June delivery was down $1.81 to settle at $109.24 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

In other NYMEX trading for June contracts, heating oil fell 4.78 cents to settle at $3.143 a gallon, gasoline futures lost 0.69 cent to $3.3225 a gallon and natural gas was lower by 9.4 cents to $4.644 per 1,000 cubic feet.

The U.S. dollar index shrunk 0.15 percent to $73.01, down from Tuesday's 73.127 close. The dollar index has fallen 7.5 percent so far in 2011.

Brigham Exploration (BEXP) closed Wednesday at $28.50, falling $3.19, or 10.07 percent.

Pressure on (OIS) (BEXP) (EGY) (CVX) (APC) as Oil Demand Falls

Falling demand for fuel has pushed down oil inventories and the price of oil, putting pressure on Oil States (NYSE:OIS), Brigham Exploration (NASDAQ:BEXP), Vaalco Energy (NYSE:EGY), Chevron (NYSE:CVX) and Anadarko (NYSE:APC).

Light, sweet crude for June delivery settled down $2.47, or 2.2%, at $111.05 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. London Brent crude for June fell $2.67 to settle at $122.45 a barrel.

Front-month June reformulated gasoline blendstock, or RBOB, settled down $1.85 cents, or 0.6%, at $3.3294 a gallon. June heating oil lost 6.13 cents, or 1.9%, to settle at $3.1908 a gallon.

Gasoline prices on average across America have jumped to just under $4.00 a gallon, rising to $3.97 a gallon for regular gas, according to AAA.

Silver is considered the key catalyst for downward pressure on oil prices and trading, as it has become a proxy to some for risk appetite among commodity traders.

After selling out of silver commodity traders followed up with divesting of positions in oil as well.

Even so, it appears the slight strengthening of the U.S dollar played a bit role Tuesday as well.

Vaalco Energy (EGY) closed at $6.64, falling $.25, or 3.63 percent.

Vaalco (EGY) (BEXP) (BRY) (PQ) Trade Mixed on Volatile Energy Day

Shares of Vaalco Energy (NYSE:EGY), Brigham Exploration (NASDAQ:BEXP), Berry Petroleum (NYSE:BRY) and PetroQuest Energy (NYSE:PQ) closed mixed on the uncertainty following the death of Osama bin Laden.

Crude futures settled lower Monday after the death of Osama bin Laden stirred up oil markets, as traders attempted to measure the impact of the event on the stability in the Middle East.

Light, sweet crude for June delivery settled 41 cents, or 0.4%, lower at $113.52 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, in a volatile session that saw both two-and-a-half year highs near $115 a barrel and a decline to $110.82 a barrel.

Brent crude on the ICE futures exchange closed 77 cents lower at $125.12 a barrel.

Front-month June reformulated gasoline blendstock, or RBOB, settled 5.05 cents, or 1.5 percent down at $3.3479 a gallon. June heating oil settled 2.37 cents, or 0.7 percent lower at $3.2521 a gallon.

PetroQuest Energy closed Monday at $9.02, gaining $0.26, or 2.97 percent.

Chevron (CVX) (LINE) (CLR) (BEXP) (TSO) Trade up on Gas, Oil Price Jumps

Linn Energy, LLC (NASDAQ:LINE), Continental Resources (NYSE:CLR), Brigham Exploration (NASDAQ:BEXP), Tesoro Corporation (NYSE:TSO) and Chevron (NYSE:CVX) close up Friday as oil and gasoline prices jump again.

Nymex light, sweet crude oil for June delivery rose $1.07 a barrel, to $113.93 a barrel. That's the highest close in two-a-half-years.

On Nymex, reformulated gasoline blendstock futures for May delivery expired at $3.4648 a gallon, up 3.5 cents Friday. That is the highest level since July 14, 2008. Prices have soared 23.17 cents, or 7.2 percent, over the past week.

AAA Daily Fuel Gauge Report said the nationwide average price of regular gasoline was $3.909 a gallon Friday, up 6.1 cents from last week.

May heating oil expired at $3.2558 a gallon, up 2.42 cents, and the highest since April 8.

Tightening inventory and higher gasoline prices continue to push oil prices up. Another major factor, as it is with most commodities, is the ongoing collapse of the U.S. dollar. That will continue based on Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke's comments he's not going to raise interest rates.

Chevron closed Friday at $109.44, gaining $0.63, or 0.58 percent.