Markets To Watch Today

Crude Oil: With the price of Crude Oil trading above $70 a barrel, as well as the U.S. wanting to lessen its dependence on foreign oil, the U.S. has sought out alternative resources for extracting Crude Oil. The process of extracting oil from shale in the mountains of Colorado was initiated back in the 1970's, but when oil prices bottomed out in the 1980's, the project was abandoned. The problem with this method is that it has been seen as polluting and very expensive. The front month October Crude Oil contract closed down on Friday 1.16 cents a barrel at $72.51.

Dollar: During the last weeks of summer the Dollar is expected to stay within trading ranges; however, there is U.S. data coming out this week that could provide some trading opportunities, including consumer confidence, GDP 2nd quarter report and with the non-farm payroll unemployment report on Friday, which analysts hope will be positive, but most likely will continue to be negative towards the Dollar. The September Dollar contract closed on Friday up 13 at $85.30.