The small investor is able to invest in a variety of oil stocks. Oil companies drill for oil, refine oil into fuel, like gasoline, and then sell the products to the consumers. The larger companies are fully integrated, and the smaller ones find the oil and gas and refine it.
You should know some facts about crude oil before you begin to invest, such as exactly what it is. It is a sticky, dark liquid, classified as hydrocarbon. That is, it contains carbon and hydrogen. It is highly flammable and is burned to create energy. Derived from this is an excellent source of fuel.
The trading of these stocks provides liquidity, as it is very actively traded all over the world. It trades in barrels, 1,000 at a time. Each barrel contains 42 gallons. Light sweet crude oil is low in sulfur content and has high value products enabling companies to produce gasoline, heating fuels, jet and diesel fuels.
There are many countries today producing oil, but among the top ten are: Russia, United States, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Norway, Kuwait, Venezuela, Canada, and China. Russia consumes much less than it produces, and in contrast the United States consumes a third more than it produces.
Once only for the wealthy investor, these days the average and small investor has the chance to trade crude oil, due to new technology. NYMEX requires only a 5% investment or less. This allows for others, less wealthy, to invest in this exciting market.
You will first need to establish an account with a stock brokerage company, do some research of what oil companies you would like to invest in, pay attention to the most recent news and charting of your oil company choice stocks, request their annual report for raw data you need to make your decisions to invest, and determine how many shares you can afford and wish to buy before you invest. And, of course, using a financial advisor is another option, and probably a good idea if you are just beginning in this type of investment in oil stocks.
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