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.

Investor’s Daily Edge editors Rick Pendergraft and Andrew Gordon, speaking with Today’s Financial News editor J. Christoph Amberger, recommend four investments to make now to leverage volatility in the crude oil and currency markets.

Andrew Gordon at Investor’s Daily Edge says the energy markets are showing renewed sings of life. Geopolitical risk in the Caucasus and a short-lived spike in crude oil prices back over $120 a barrel have sent benchmark energy ETF Energy Select Sector SPDR (AMEX:XLE) up sharply. And the return of Chinese cars and industry following the Olympics should provide a major boost for global energy demand.

The balmy summer months have brought some much needed relief from fuel and energy bills. It’s easier to open windows and ditch the SUV when the sun is shining. But, says Adam Lass over at Taipan Publishing Group, after summer comes fall, and then winter. It won’t be long before the cold and rain set back in, and families crank the thermostat up again.

If you’re bullish on mining, don’t buy the companies. Instead, buy the companies that make the shovels and picks… That was conventional wisdom years ago before gold-mining developed into a legitimate investment sector. But that old adage still stands true today – especially in the oil business.

For a few days last week it looked like the ‘junior miners’ had finally decoupled from the mainstream stockmarket trend. They actually rose as the Dow and S&P plunged. Sadly it didn’t last – before long they turned down once again. It seems we were being teased.