Oil prices fell again yesterday (Wednesday) – dropping below $40 for the first time in four years – as weak demand and growing inventories overshadowed a record cut in production by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

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Speculation that oil prices are beginning to bottom helped push crude contracts higher yesterday (Wednesday), as traders closed out short positions and rumors surfaced that both Russia and the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) are planning to cut production next week.

Commodity prices have plunged from the record highs they hit earlier this year, but in a recent interview with Bloomberg, investing guru Jim Rogers said he is still bullish on commodities, which he expects to take off as soon as the clouds of the global recession lift.

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In the energy market Friday, oil moved higher, with crude for December delivery closing at $67.81/barrel, up $1.85. November reformulated gasoline fell 2.57 cents, to $1.4413/gallon.

Gold was slightly higher in Hong Kong and early London trading on Wednesday, then rose steadily during the NYMEX session before leveling off through the Globex and finishing at $880.10/oz., up $13.50. Overnight, gold has fallen off.

Crude oil for July delivery traded at an all-time high of $139.12 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange today (Friday), after the U.S. dollar nosedived on speculation that the European Central Bank would raise its key lending rate and on worries that a bigger-than-expected spike in unemployment meant the U.S. economy was far weaker than feared.

Gold was steady to higher through the far East and most of London trading yesterday, but at about 9:30 of the New York session it plunged, bottoming at $877 before it climbed through the NYMEX, only to sag again in the Globex and finish at $881.30/oz., down $9.00. Overnight, gold has fallen off.

After bottoming at $870 at the open of London trading yesterday, gold finally decided it was time to add some value, and it moved slowly but steadily higher from there to the close of the NYMEX, after which it leveled off and cruised into a finish at $886.10/oz., up $8.80. For the week, gold gave up 4.1%.