Noted today on TheStreet.com’s site for investors willing to pay for information:

Did you know that in the last eight months we’ve gone from almost the highest amount of gasoline in inventory in U.S. ever back to five-year lows, all within 2007? Yep, them’s the facts.
Energy trading expert, Bill O’Connor

This time of year inventories of crude oil usually build up since refineries are shutting down for seasonal maintenance and processing less crude.

Imagine the surprise when the EIA reported last week that crude supplies fell by 5.3 million barrels when analysts were expecting an increase of 300,000 barrels.

Analysts now explain this decline as a sharp drop in imports.

Oil futures rose in Asia on this news.

GM is beating Toyota in global sales by a nose. For the first 9 months of the year, Toyota reported global sales of 7.05 million vehicles, up 7% from last year. GM reported sales of 7.06 million. That was up only 2% from a year ago, but up is good.

Guess where the strong sales gains were. Hint: It’s a country with a Great Wall.

The GM/Toyota race is not over, of course. GM will have to do more to hold on to its skinny lead.

Here are the latest numbers as reported by Oilwatch Monthly for October.

EIA numbers show that crude oil increased to 445,000 barrels/day from June to July, but July production was 1.01 million barrels/day lower that all-time high production of May 2005.

Total liquids increased by 450,000 b/d from August to September. Lower by 1.03 million b/d from all-time maximum production August 2006.

Per IEA and EIA, global liquids production has been on a plateau since 2005.

Just one writer’s opinion here, but this doesn’t look like higher highs–more like lower highs. Fill up now before it’s all gone.

When we work to help fleet managers and CFO’s, we always try to get the best possible pricing. While it is not our business to predict oil prices, we use every resource possible to find good entry points for those trying to hedge.

A month ago we highlighted an interview with T. Boone Pickens, suggesting that there might be a dip to $78/barrel before prices moved higher. Take a look at the chart and commentary below, taken from Greg J. Troccoli,’s excellent daily Opaleque Technical Research Briefing. It is worth a close look. (Click on image to enlarge).