Oil is still one of the best bets for long-term gains says Greg Guenthner. In the midst of blind market panic, investors are forgetting that crude is a finite resource facing unquenchable demand. It will rise to record highs again. And when it does, oil stocks will soar.

Toll Brothers 4Q Revenue Caves; Vodaphone Focuses on Cash; Tyco Doubles 4Q Net Income; StatOilHydro Buys Shale Gas from Chesapeake; Oil Hits 20-month Low; Sirius Posts Profit Loss Despite Increase in Revenue

Oil was given a lift yesterday. But at $81.19 a barrel, the black goo is still almost $70 from its July peak.

Greg Guenthner isn’t sweating it.

Oil prices have been caught up in widespread panic selling of recent months. It remains a scarce and essential commodity. This means it is only heading in one direction over the long term.

Greg recommends following oil guru Richard Rainwater’s cue and buying into oil stocks with both hands.

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.

Five energy companies made year-highs on your Money Morning sidebar today. We realised with a start that they’re all coal companies. Yep. They all have a little coal property to call their own. The new Australian dream, perhaps.

Now, here’s something a little different. The high oil price is driving up the price of shares mineral sands companies.

Exactly 12 months ago, West Texas Intermediate crude oil was trading at just under $63 a barrel.