Oil companies are evacuating workers from operations in the Gulf of Mexico as Tropical Storm Ida approaches.

Big movements in the price of oil can have significant effects in the general economy, and although the commodity is off its all-time highs, countries with the most oil within their borders are set for big profits as demand for crude continues to rise. With much of the world's existing reserves found in the Middle East, Gulf of Mexico and a few other locations around the globe, individual countries benefit incredibly from their surprisingly high concentrations of oil. With the most recent data from the Energy Information Administration, here are the countries with the biggest proven oil reserves. Click ahead for the list!

Oil companies have begun to pump more petroleum and bring in more profits as they recover from an otherwise miserable year. None of the world's biggest producers, however, see a quick return to boom times of last year.

What follows is a roundup of corporate earnings reports for Tuesday, Oct. 27.

The U.S. economy offered more evidence on Thursday that the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression was creeping to an end.

Stocks skidded Tuesday after a report showed consumer confidence is waning amid worries about the job market. It was a struggle all morning as investors juggled another batch of disappointing earnings results against an encouraging report on the housing market.

Stock futures drifted slightly lower ahead of the open Tuesday as investors waited for the next batch of earnings and key economic data.

With demand for gasoline, and the ethanol that goes into it, expected to rise, oil companies are trying to benefit.

Valero reported Tuesday that first-quarter profits rose more than 18 percent, easily beating beat Wall Street expectations as higher refining margins offset weak gasoline demand.