Valero (VLO) (DFS) (SCHW) (ESL) (HRB) (FL) (FNSR) EPS Estimates Changed

Valero Energy Co. (NYSE: VLO), Discover Financial Services (NYSE: DFS), Charles Schwab (NASDAQ: SCHW), Esterline Technologies Co. (NYSE: ESL), H&R Block, Inc. (NYSE: HRB), Foot Locker (NYSE: FL) and Finisar (NASDAQ: FNSR) EPS estimates adjusted by analysts.

Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) raised its EPS estimates on Valero Energy Co. (VLO). TheY have an “Equal Weight” rating and a price target of $29.00 on the company.

Credit Suisse (NYSE:CS) boosted its EPS estimates on Discover Financial Services (DFS). They have a “Neutral” rating and a price target of $28.00 on the company.

Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) increased its EPS estimates on Charles Schwab (SCHW). They have a “Neutral” rating and a price target of $14.00 on the company.

Credit Suisse lowered its EPS estimates on Esterline Technologies Co. (ESL). They have an “Outperform” rating and a price target of $87.00 on the company.

Oppenheimer cut its EPS estimates on H&R Block, Inc. (HRB). They have a “Market Perform” rating on the company.

UBS AG (NYSE:UBS) raised its EPS estimates on Foot Locker (FL). They have a “Neutral” rating and a price target of $22.00 on the company.

Morgan Stanley raised its EPS estimates on Finisar (FNSR). They have an “Overweight” rating and a price target of $22.00 on the company.

Valero (VLO) (CBOE) (TXN) (CIEN) (TGT) (DFS) Estimates Changed

Valero (NYSE:VLO), CBOE Holdings (NASDAQ:CBOE), Texas Instruments (NYSE:TXN), Ciena (NASDAQ:CIEN), Target (NYSE:TGT) and Discover Financial (NYSE:DFS) had estimates adjusted by analysts.

Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) raised its estimates on Valero (VLO) estimatesthrough 2013. They have an "Equal-weight" rating and price target of $29 on the company.

BMO increased its estimates on CBOE Holdings (CBOE) through 2011. They reiterated a "Market Perform" rating and price target of $24 on the company.

JMP cut its estimates on Texas Instruments (TXN) through 2012. They have a "Market Perform" rating on the company.

Citigroup (NYSE:C) raised its estimates on Ciena (CIEN). They have a "Buy" rating and price target of $18 on the company.

JP Morgan (NYSE:JPM) lowered its estimates on Target (TGT). They have an "Overweight" rating and price target of $58 on the company.

Credit Suisse (NYSE:CS) boosted its estimates on Discover Financial (DFS) through 2013. They have a "Neutral" rating and price target of $28 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.

Cameron (CAM) (TAT) (PQ) (HK) (VLO) Trading Mixed

Shares of Cameron International (NYSE:CAM), TransAtlantic Petroleum (AMEX:TAT), PetroQuest Energy (NYSE:PQ), Petrohawk Energy Corp. (NYSE:HK) and Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) were trading mixed today as oil prices were trading down in the session.

Crude-oil futures were trading down $0.79 to $97.65 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

U. S. crude oil prices also gained some back from earlier losses spurred by comments from the German Bundesbank, which said growth in Europe's largest economy will probably slow down.

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).

Valero Energy (VLO) was trading at $26.35, falling $0.16, or 2:24 percent, as of 2:26 PM EDT. Petrohawk Energy Corp. (HK) was at $25.08, up $0.92, or 3.83 percent. PetroQuest Energy (PQ) was trading at $7.42, up $0.11, or 1.46 percent. TransAtlantic Petroleum (TAT) was at $2.15, gaining $0.05, or 2.27 percent. Cameron International (CAM) was trading at $48.47, jumping $0.43, or 0.90 percent.

Devon (DVN) (NOV) (VQ) (KOG) (VLO) Trade Mixed as Energy Falls

Shares of Devon Energy (NYSE:DVN), National-Oilwell Varco, Inc. (NYSE:NOV), Venoco Inc. (NYSE:VQ), Kodiak Oil & Gas (Amex:KOG) and Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) 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.

Devon Energy (DVN) closed Thursday at $82.53, dropping $0.48, or 0.58 percent. National-Oilwell Varco, Inc. (NOV) closed at $67.93, gaining $0.19, or 0.28 percent.

Valero (VLO) (MRO) (BOLT) (VQ) (BRY) Trade Mixed as Oil Prices Rebounded

Shares of Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO), Marathon Oil (NYSE:MRO), Bolt Technology Corp. (NASDAQ:BOLT), Venoco Inc. (NYSE:VQ) and Berry Petroleum (NYSE:BRY) 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.

Valero Energy (VLO) closed Friday at $26.68, gaining $0.15, or 0.57 percent.

Valero Energy (VLO) Trades Up While Oil, Gas Rise

Crude oil, natural gas and gasoline prices jumped Tuesday, pushing up the share price of Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO).

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.

Valero Energy Corporation operates as an independent petroleum refining and marketing company.

Valero Energy (VLO) closed at $28.48, gaining $0.80, or 2.89 percent.

Ex-Dividend for (VLO) (WWD) (XLNX) on May 16

Ex-Dividend date for Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE:VLO), Woodward Inc. (NASDAQ:WWD) and Xilinx Inc. (NASDAQ:XLNX) is May 16.

Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE:VLO) pays a dividend of $0.05 with a yield of 0.75 percent.

Woodward Inc. (WWD) pays a dividend of $0.07 with a yield of 0.79 percent.

Xilinx Inc. (XLNX) pays a dividend of $0.19 with a yield of 2.16 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.

ConocoPhillips (COP) (VLO) (HNR) (ROSE) (DRQ) Pressured as Oil Tumbles

Shares of oil and oil-related companies ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP), Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO), Harvest Natural Resources (NYSE:HNR), Rosetta Resources (NASDAQ:ROSE) and Dril-Quip, Inc. (NYSE:DRQ) 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.

Conoco (COP) closed Thursday at $71.97, dropping $1.68, or 2.28 percent.

Valero (VLO) (SLB) (STR) (PTR) Trade Down on Slowing Oil Demand

Oil companies and other industry-related companies PetroChina (NYSE:PTR), Questar (NYSE:STR), Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) and Schlumberger (NYSE:SLB) 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 dropped 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.

PetroChina (PTR) closed Wednesday at $138.69, falling $2.38, or 1.69 percent.

Devon (DVN) (VLO) (PQ) (EPM) Drop as Oil Prices Fall

Decreasing demand for fuel has pushed down oil inventories and the price of oil, putting pressure on Devon Energy (NYSE:DVN), Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO), PetroQuest Energy (NYSE:PQ) and Evolution Petroleum (Amex:EPM).

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.

Valero Energy (VLO) closed Tuesday at $27.21, falling $0.77, or 2.75 percent.

Shell (RDS-A) (NOV) (UPL) (CRZO) (VLO) Trade Down on Volatile Energy Day

Shares of National-Oilwell Varco, Inc. (NYSE:NOV), Ultra Petroleum (NYSE:UPL), Carrizo Oil & Gas (NASDAQ:CRZO), Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) and Royal Dutch Shell (NYSE:RDS-A) closed down 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.

Royal Dutch Shell closed Monday at $77.40, dropping $0.08, or 0.10 percent.

Dividend Yields for (CNX) (HAL) (VLO) (DO) (NOV)

Indicated dividend yields for Standard & Poor's 500 Index companies Consol Energy Inc (CNX), Halliburton Co (HAL), Valero Energy Corp (VLO), Diamond Offshore Drilling Inc (DO) and National Oilwell Varco Inc (NOV).

These dividend data indicate dividend yields of companies in the Standard & Poor's 500 Index as of Saturday, April 30. The yield is determined by taking the latest declared dividend, annualized and divided by the price of the stock. Payout ratios are calculated based on latest quarterly dividend paid divided by earnings.

Consol Energy Inc (CNX) has a dividend yield of 0.74 percent on a declared dividend of $0.10. The payout ratio is 11.8 percent.

Halliburton Co (HAL) has a dividend yield of 0.71 percent on a declared dividend of $0.09. The payout ratio is 16.0 percent.

Valero Energy Corp (VLO) has a dividend yield of 0.71 percent on a declared dividend of $0.05. The payout ratio is 27.2 percent.

Diamond Offshore Drilling Inc (DO) has a dividend yield of 0.66 percent on a declared dividend of $0.12. The payout ratio is 48.7 percent.

National Oilwell Varco Inc (NOV) has a dividend yield of 0.57 percent on a declared dividend of $0.11. The payout ratio is 11.4 percent.

Berry (BRY) (KOG) (EPD) (VLO) (CAM) Trade Mixed on Gas, Oil Price Jumps

Berry Petroleum (NYSE:BRY), Kodiak Oil & Gas (NYSE Amex:KOG), Enterprise Products Partners (NYSE:EPD), Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) and Cameron International (NYSE:CAM) close mixed 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.

Cameron International closed Friday at $52.72, gaining $0.52, or 1.00 percent.

Carrizo (CRZO) (CPE) (ROSE) (NOV) (VLO) Close Mixed as Oil, Gas Rise

Carrizo Oil & Gas (NASDAQ:CRZO), Callon Petroleum (NYSE:CPE), Rosetta Resources (NASDAQ:ROSE), National-Oilwell Varco, Inc. (NYSE:NOV) and Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) closed mixed as oil, gasoline and natural gas moved up in price Thursday.

Oil settled higher in volatile trading Thursday, pushed up by a collapsing U.S. dollar. After soaring to close to $114 a barrel, West Texas Intermediate crude settled up 10 cents, at $112.86, in futures trading in New York.

Brent North Sea crude oil fell 11 cents to settle at $125.02 a barrel on the Ice Futures exchange.

In futures trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange, natural gas climbed 15.7 cents to settle at $4.63 per million British thermal units.

Gasoline for May delivery jumped 1.04 cents, or 0.3 percent, to $3.4298 a gallon, the highest settlement since July 14, 2008. Futures have risen 47 percent in the past year.

The Dollar Index fell to the lowest level since July 31, 2008. The index was down 0.5 percent to 73.139, its eighth straight daily decline.

Crimson (CXPO) (EPM) (CWEI) (VLO) Close Mixed as Oil Settles at $112.21

Evolution Petroleum (Amex:EPM), Crimson Exploration (NASDAQ::CXPO), Clayton Williams Energy (NASDAQ::CWEI) and Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) closed mixed Tuesday as oil for June delivery fell below the $112.21 it settled at, as the American Petroleum Institute reported at 4:30 PM EDT that U.S. crude-oil stockpiles soared 4.91 million barrels to 361 million. Apache was the only company of the four trading in the black Tuesday.

Oil for June delivery settled at $112.21 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Oil has risen 33 percent in the past year.

Prices dropped from the settlement after the American Petroleum Institute reported at 4:30 p.m. that U.S. crude-oil stockpiles soared 4.91 million barrels to 361 million. June oil was down 49 cents, or 0.4 percent, to $111.79 a barrel in electronic trading at 4:32 PM EDT.

Brent crude for June settlement on the London-based ICE Futures Europe exchange jumped 48 cents, or 0.4 percent, to $124.14 a barrel.

The dollar fell for a sixth day against the euro, equaling the longest losing streak since May 2009. Expectations are the Federal Reserve will continue to keep measures in to allegedly support the U.S. economy.

Gasoline climbed over 53 cents a gallon from January to March as unrest in Libya threatened its oil fields and helped push oil from $91 to $107 a barrel. The national average for gasoline is closing in on $3.90 a gallon. Diesel is at about $4.14.

Oil averaged $94.64 a barrel between January and March, compared with $78.89 in the same period last year.

Natural gas prices continue to stay low in comparison to three years ago. It's now trading at $4.38 per 1,000 cubic feet. In April 2008, natural gas contracts generated over twice that.

Valero (VLO) (WTI) (WLL) (GEOI) Close Mixed as Oil Prices Pull Back

Oil prices should keep climbing toward the highs of 2008 as growing demand isn't matched by additional supplies and the price jump has been slow to cut into consumption, as W&T Offshore (NYSE:WTI), Whiting Petroleum (NYSE:WLL), GeoResources (NASDAQ::GEOI) and Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) closed mixed Monday, April 25.

The front-month Brent crude-oil futures contract, the London benchmark, pulled back from a 2½-year high of $127 a barrel on April 11, amid concerns that soaring prices are hurting demand. It settled at $123.66 a barrel on Monday, up 5.4 percent so far in April. The front-month June contract on the New York Mercantile Exchange pulled back one cent to $112.28, still up 5.2 percent this month and 23 percent in 2011.

Benchmark crude for June delivery dropped a penny to settle at $112.28 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. In London, Brent crude fell 33 cents to settle at $123.66 a barrel on the ICE Futures exchange.

In other Nymex trading, heating oil was down 1.73 cents to settle at $3.1989 a gallon and gasoline futures increased a little less than a penny to settle at $3.2785 a gallon. Natural gas dropped 2.3 cents to $4.389 per 1,000 cubic feet.

Valero (VLO) (SWN) (PXP) (CRZO) Close Mixed as Oil, Gas Continue to Rise

Southwestern Energy (NYSE:SWN), Plains Exploration & Production (NYSE:PXP), Carrizo Oil & Gas (Nasdaq:CRZO) and Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) closed mixed Thursday as oil and gas prices continue to move up.

Crude oil prices climbed above $112 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange Friday while the U.S. dollar was up after three days of faltering.

The dollar index jumped 0.14 percent to 74.10, making up a little lost ground.

May delivery crude oil rose 80 cents in New York to $112.25 a barrel. Home heating oil fell 1.85 cents to $3.2174 a gallon. Reformulated blendstock gasoline was up 2.93 cents to $3.2777 a gallon.

Henry Hub natural gas prices gained 11.3 cents to $4.423 per million British thermal units.

According to the AAA, the national average price of unleaded gasoline rose to $3.848 a gallon Friday from Thursday's $3.84.

Valero Energy closed Thursday at $29.03, gaining $0.66, or 2.33 percent. Carrizo Oil & Gas ended the day at $37.10, up $0.02, or 0.05 percent. Plains Exploration & Production closed at $35.03, down $0.22, or 0.62 percent. Southwestern Energy closed the session at $40.54, dropping $0.25, or 0.61 percent.