Oil prices are down over 60 percent from their peaks just last summer. With the economy crumbling across the globe, most investors think buying an oil company is the same as suicide.

But not Adam Lass, writing for the Taipan Publishing Group. He readily points out that ExxonMobil made $45.2 billion in pure profits last year alone.

For a company producing enormous amounts of cash in a “Cash is king” economy, he recommends you stay long ExxonMobil.

Job Claims Hit 42-Year High; Dodd’s Vengeance; Durable Goods Orders Slowing Slide; 3Com Profit Down but Stock Up; Amazon Profit Up 9%; Crude Prices Down as Inventories Build; Kodak Paints Unflattering Picture

Can you hear that, Blockbuster (NYSE: BBI)? It’s the sound of obsolescence. With the news that LG Electronics will be producing high-definition televisions that will stream movies from Netflix (Nasdaq: NFLX), you can add another nail in the coffin for Blockbuster.

The slump in stock markets this year has value investors licking their lips. But Louis Basenese says there are at least three value traps for every true deal out there. How do you spot a bargain from a lost cause? Louis provides the 10 questions that every value investor must ask before making a purchase.

Lynn Carpenter says pension fund deficits could be a major threat to dividend payments. Legislation forces companies to keep private pension plans well funded, meaning some will have to raise large sums of cash at short notice. Lynn picks 9 firms that could soon be forced into making big dividend cuts.

With all the negative news that’s right now permeating the global financial markets – hammering stock prices – we wouldn’t blame you one bit if you wanted to stick your head in the sand.

Bristol Myers Moves for ImClone; Kodak Earnings Fade; Diana Shipping Doubles Earnings; Crude Stumbles Again; Google to Start VC Fund; Primetime Ad Drama; MasterCard Slumps on Less Spending; S&P Says U.S. Car Companies are “Junk”

• Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. (BMY) yesterday (Thursday) offered $4.5 billion in cash for biotechnology company ImClone Systems Inc. (IMCL), the Associated Press reported. ImClone’s board has yet to comment on the proposal, which offers its stockholders $60 per share, a 30% premium to its Wednesday closing price of $46.44. Bristol-Myers already owns about 17% of ImClone.

• Eastman Kodak Co. (EK) said yesterday (Thursday) that second-quarter profit fell, as traditional film-based revenue slumped 14% to $847 million. Sales climbed 1% from $2.47 billion to $2.49 billion, and revenue from digital businesses rose 10%…

It might seem a bit late to jump on the digital photography bandwagon. But Penny Sleuth’s Greg Guenthner says he has found the last hidden opportunity in the industry.

Kodak Announces $1 Billion Buyback; Kroger Lowers Prices, Posts Profit; BP Breaks Ground on Wind Farm; Reliance and Dreamworks in Talks; Lukoil Joins Up With Italy’s ERG; Wachovia Brings in Goldman Sachs; Dow Hikes Prices; Yahoo and Microsoft Back in Talks