Will the U.S. lift the oil export ban?
That's been the question on investors' minds recently as oil prices fall to six-year lows.
Here's why the U.S. lifting the oil export ban would improve crude oil prices...
When the People's Bank of China (PBOC) cut the value of the yuan by 2% on Tuesday, it was the biggest one-day drop for the currency in more than 20 years.
Crude oil and stocks sank on Tuesday, as well, with oil scraping six-year lows.
Tuesday's action would have been enough... but then the yuan dived over again on Wednesday, despite PBOC efforts to prop it up, triggering even more turmoil.
If you still doubt that geopolitical heat can rattle the oil sector, then we strongly advise you to carefully watch the events that are about to play out.
Because matters are getting worse: U.S. Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter called out the Iraqi military - during a high-profile TV interview no less - claiming it lacks the will to fight.
After more than four decades, it looks like America is getting back into the oil export business again.
For the first time since the 1970s, Washington has opened the door to sending more U.S. crude abroad.
Of course, the United States has been exporting oil products for some time now.
In fact, America is now the largest exporter of products like gasoline, low-sulfur heating oil, and diesel fuel in the world.
But until now, companies were hamstrung when it came to the raw material itself.
Of course, there have been a few exceptions. Very heavy California crude, which has to be sold at a deep discount and for which there is not a ready domestic market, has received some permissions to export. In addition, a few tolling programs - where the raw material is exported out and finished products are imported back in - have been allowed.
But for the lion's share of what is pumped out of the ground at American fields, the domestic market has long been the only option.
This change in policy promises to open up new opportunities for investors... Full Story
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Energy investing update: The amount of oil produced in the U.S. has skyrocketed more than 50% over the last six years.
Now small towns all across America are filling with a new breed of millionaires who have learned how to make money from this boom. But it isn't the major oil companies leading the way. According to a new report, the fastest-growing oil companies in America are the smaller outfits.
And these oil stocks are rising as quickly as their reputations...
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