Energy prices continue to tumble on recession fears and a US dollar rally. For investors that are long-term bullish on energy markets, this represents a great buying opportunity, says Andrew Snyder. He expects coal producers like Massey (NYSE:MEE), Peabody (NYSE:BTU) and James River Coal (NYSE:JRCC) to see big increases in their valuations in the coming year.

The Treasury’s plan to inject $250 billion in capital directly into US banks is underway. But William Patalon III says some of these taxpayer funds will be used by big banks to acquire junior competitors. This means the increase in lending that the plan is supposed to spark will be modest at best. And less competition in the banking sector could mean a rise in fees going forward.

Crude Gains on Lower Supply; Comcast Earnings Boost; Garmin Shares Plunge on Lowered Outlook; United’s Pilot Trouble; Private Employers Add Jobs; Nissan Buys Out TN Plants; ArcelorMittal’s Strong Second Quarter; Nintendo Brings Its A-Game

• Crude oil for September delivery gained $4.58 yesterday (Wednesday) to close at $126.77 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, MarketWatch reported, after the Energy Information Administration announced crude supplies fell 100,000 barrels to 295.2 million barrels for the week ended July 25.

• Comcast Corp. (CMCSA), the largest U.S. cable television provider, announced yesterday (Wednesday) that net profit in the second quarter rose to $632 million, or 21 cents a share, from $588 million, or 19 cents a share, in the prior year, Reuters reported. Comcast stock gained 89 cents, a…

How can you have free trade at $140 a barrel of oil? Oil and energy expert Byron King says the cost of fueling a cargo ship to travel between Los Angeles and Shanghai is nearly $4 million! That’s an 87% increase since 2005. This increase is altering the patterns of free trade.

Editor’s Note: BHP Billiton (ASX:BHP) and Rio Tinto (ASX:RIO) are the twin mining pillars of the Australian Securities Exchange. But which one is the better investment? Dan Denning in The Daily Reckoning Australia explains why BHP does more to hold up the S&P/ASX 200 — Australia’s main market-cap weighted index.

As the home to 34 of the world’s 50 least-developed countries, Africa is the poorest and least-developed continent on the planet. It’s 11.7 million square miles of desert and jungle, with little in between.

J.C. Penney CEO Declines Annual Forecast; Wells Fargo 1Q Beats Estimates; Chinese Economy Undaunted in 1Q; GE Ups Asian Investment; Auto Industry Heats Up in India; Qualcomm’s India Investment; Sparrows Point Deal Approved; Welch Shows Wrath