Smart investors are looking beyond the current financial crisis. For a good shot at long-term profits, look towards the oil industry.

In the energy market Monday, crude for June delivery spiked higher, shooting to yet another record intraday high of $119.93 before easing to close at $118.75/barrel, up 23 cents. June reformulated gasoline fell 2.3 cents, to $3.0307/gallon.

This from Bloomberg:

Royal Dutch Shell Plc said a militant attack on a pipeline has cut as much as 169,000 barrels a day of Nigeria’s Bonny Light crude production as rebels claimed responsibility for two more strikes today.

Crude futures contracts in New York have hit fresh highs of $117+ a barrel on the news of the attacks. Crude oil prices climbed to a new record after Shell said exports would be cut — the highest since futures started in 1983.