Oil prices fell below $69 a barrel on Tuesday as economic concerns sent investors into safer havens, outweighing positive U.S. manufacturing and home sales data.

Is it the prospect of global recovery or the prospect of inflation that’s driving oil prices higher? Adam Lass says you don’t have to choose – the opportunity for profit is there either way.

From its high of $147 a barrel last July, West Texas Intermediate Crude oil prices have crashed a cumulative 74%. That ranks as one of the worst absolute declines for any asset since the onset of deflation last July as investors dump most commodities, except gold, silver and several other soft commodities.

U.S. Congress set to approve $789 billion stimulus package… OPEC again cuts 2009 world oil demand forecast… OPEC figures suggest 65 percent compliance on output cuts…

OPEC wants transparency and the White House is on the verge of giving it to them. The result is the virtual destruction of speculation in the oil markets. But the upside is that oil companies will have a clearer gauge of supply and demand. And what’s good news for the oil market is good news for major oil companies. Here’s what you need to know:

All eyes are on the oil futures market today. As governments and industries across the globe adjust for drastically lower oil prices, investors are anxious to see how the crude market will react to the growing conflict in the Mid-East.

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).

General Growth Properties Facing Bankruptcy; Macy’s Cut Capital Spending 45%; Oil Futures Dip; China Retail Sales Soar; Yum Restructures; AB Shareholders Approve InBev Merger

Demand Drops Crude; Volkswagen Races Ahead; Yen’s Strength Sinks Stocks; Verizon Dials Up Gains; Sept. Home Sales Up; Wal-Mart Scales Back; Citi Rejects Goldman Merger

A week that saw the war on taxpayers expand onto to several new fronts also saw US Senate Republicans win a pitched procedural battle to keep gas at the pump grossly inflated.