Select Commodities – Outlook • Crude Oil Trades Near $80 as Equities Gain on Earnings Optimism - Crude oil was little changed in New York on speculation corporate earnings in the U.S. will improve and bolster the economy, fueling consumption in the world's biggest energy user. Oil traded near $80 a barrel after the Standard & Poor's 500 Index rebounded yesterday from its loss of the year as analyst upgrades lifted investor sentiment.