The dollar's long-term prospects are still in question as [oil prices] remain high and many areas in the [southern] United States have been left in turmoil in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

Sentiment is still very bullish. There is tension in the Middle East, and oil prices are rising because of it. All of this makes gold and the rest of the precious-metals complex a safe bet.

They (oil companies) have become financial engineers rather than petroleum engineers. I'd like to see them show a little more effort in the development side internally than they have lately.

Seasonal factors, combined with additional production expected by OPEC, should bring oil prices back down to the mid-20 range by mid-summer.

The inventory build was two-to-three times greater than expected, and oil prices are backing off.

Crude oil prices are the major determinant of gasoline prices.