Airline stocks are enjoying a sharp upswing today. The industry is recovering strongly as fuel prices tumble. And investors are also encouraged by the Delta (NYSE:DAL) and Northwest (NYSE:NWA) merger. But Andrew Snyder says this remains a high-risk sector for stock investors.

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The price of oil has continued to slide, and is now down over 11% in the past month. This has helped prop the dollar up in spite of a number of poor economic reports here in the United States.

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• 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…

A hectic week on the economic calendar is highlighted by the initial look at second quarter gross domestic product (GDP). Remember, a recession is defined as two consecutive quarters of negative growth, so doomsayers have targeted this week’s release as confirmation of their pessimism.

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Editor’s Note: Here’s a real contrarian play: Eric Roseman, Investment Director of Sovereign Society, says airline stocks are primed to offer major profit returns in the near future.

The airline industry has been battered by the surge in oil prices. Major companies have already cut services, raised fees, and announced job losses. And share prices have collapsed since the start of the year: United Airlines (UAUA) is down a whopping 84.6%, Delta Airlines (DAL) 64.8%, Continental (CAL) 48.7% and Northwest (NWA) 58.9%.

Volatile oil prices… Bush blames Democrats for fuel crisis… More gloom on Wall Street… Stocks take a beating…

Crude futures encountered a volatile week last week as traders analyzed the contrasting news from aboard. On one hand, the news that Saudi Arabia may be increasing oil production and that China is hiking gasoline and diesel fuel prices should dampen demand and move prices lower. On the other hand, Israel threatened Iran’s nuclear facilities and rebels reportedly attacked a Chevron Corp. (CVX) plant in Nigeria late last week (both should contribute to higher oil prices). For now, crude stands around the $135 per barrel level.

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