Stocks, base metals and crude oil made further headway last week. Long-term US bond yields came down a bit following a successful 30-year bond auction and some pro-Treasurys comments from Japan’s finance minister. The dollar dipped while commodity-link currencies rallied.

Oil is trading well over $70 a barrel – at its highs for this year – and just off nine-month highs of $73.20, seen last October 21, oil has been steadily rising. Oil prices have risen nearly 100% since their $38 a barrel lows seen last January.

With Exxon Mobil Corp.’s (XOM) new oil discovery off the coast of Brazil – the latest in a series of such offshore finds and potentially the largest Western Hemisphere discovery in three – the South American nation has taken another giant step in its quest to become a global energy superpower.

With dropping oil prices and the current global attitude on commodities, Horacio Marquez of Money Morning recommends this offshore drilling company as a top performer in its sector.

Crude looks like it is entering its own type of recession this year, with the International Energy Agency predicting a fall in oil consumption for the first time in 25 years. But David Newman still thinks there are huge profits to be had in the oil industry. He recommends an Oil & Gas ETF (NYSE:IEO) and Oil Services ETF (NYSE:OIH), using a ‘protective put strategy’ to cover against downside risk.

The Democrats are in a very strong position following Tuesday’s election. Andrew Snyder says oil majors like Exxon Mobil (NYSE:XOM) and BP (NYSE:BP) will face higher taxes and stricter legislation. But offshore drilling experts with international exposure like Transocean (NYSE:RIG) remain an excellent long-term investment.

It’s been a volatile year for crude oil prices. After touching above $147 a barrel in July, the black goo is trading back below $110 a barrel.

Don Miller says industry insiders are now betting on triple-digit crude oil prices for the next decade. And long-term oil futures show demand will continue to outstrip supply, as Asia industrializes and proven reserves diminish.

Don says Transocean Inc. (NYSE:RIG), StatoilHydro ASA (NYSE:STO), and Petrobras (NYSE:PZE) are likely to benefit from new drilling projects. And the company that supplies equipment lines for 90% of oilrigs, National Oilwell Varco (NYSE:NOV), is also well placed for profits.

Circuit City Falls, Cuts Dividend; Mitsubishi Working on Plug-In Line; Continental and United Buddy Up; Western Oil Back in Iraq; Citi CFO Sees More Trouble; Bear Stearns Execs Arrested; Transocean and BP Extend Drilling Contract; Bank of America to Takeover Countrywide by July.

The IEA forecast for a daily increase in global oil production of 31 million barrels by 2030—a 37% jump—sounds like pure fantasy. Do the facts support it? Are big oil companies already searching for that future oil and finding it? Do they have plans to produce it?

Once in a great while, a sector trend becomes so strong, the rising tide lifts every boat in the industry.