stocks Rowan Companies PLC

The Reuters/Jefferies CRB Index is a global commodity benchmark which tracks 19 mostly U.S. traded commodities and has led a rally in the past weeks with a year-to-date performance surpassing the S&P, currently up 10% versus 3% YTD, driven in part by a depreciating dollar and speculation of an economic recovery.  Here are some stocks that are riding the commodities wave.

Bryan Piskorowski, managing director at Wachovia Securities, and Rick Bensignor, head of research at Execution LLC, weighed in on the best places to invest now.

Crude oil reached a six-month high on Wednesday, lifted by a significant drop in oil inventories ahead of the summer driving.  Will upward momentum on crude futures continue as hopes of a healing economy emerge? If so, a look at the S&P 500 Energy group might provide some guidance to investors seeking to place bets on crude prices moving higher.

Brent Wilsey is one of countless market-watchers who expect the earnings season to be a rough one, but the president of Wilsey Asset Management is not one to overlook the price tags on the stocks of the companies involved.  "Stocks are beaten down way more than they should be," he told CNBC.  "This is a great opportunity to be buying these companies at these prices."

The Dow Jones Industrial Average finally closed below its November 21 closing low, and is now at the lowest level since 2002. The S&P and the NASDAQ have not broken the November lows.

Futures are trading up as Europe is up on an oversold rally.

Crude oil contracts for December delivery rallied $6.62 per barrel, up 10.36% for the day, marking the fourth largest dollar move ever.

The Lightning Round is extended in this CNBC.com exclusive feature.

Cramer makes the call on viewers' favorite stocks.

The week began with a flashback to the credit crisis.  It ended with figures showing the fastest inflation in six months and the lowest consumer-sentiment reading in 28 years.  Along the way, as the stock market ebbed and flowed, CNBC guests assembled a collective portfolio that was heavy on technology, energy, and global exposure.

Traders of late have tied many investment decisions to the price of oil. Jerry Castellini says it's time to stop worrying about oil prices -- and start buying oil and gas stocks.

1) UBS is pounding the table on oil: It upgraded oil to $115 for 2008, $120 for 2009, and intitiates coverage of the offshore drilling sector, with buy ratings on Atwood, Diamond Offshore, Ensco, Noble, Rowan, and Transocean. Here are the reasons...

The Dow, S&P and Nasdaq are just points away from breaking their monthly losing streaks at 4 straight months of losses. Here's what they would need to rally today to have their first positive month since October: