4 energy experts break down what’s ahead for an oil market in free-fall “” including stocks to buy and strategies to deploy

4 energy experts break down what’s ahead for an oil market in free-fall “” including stocks to buy and strategies to deploy

The pressure on the energy sector intensified last week when oil prices plummeted 31% in a matter of minutes - the most in nearly three decades - after Saudi Arabia slashed prices in response to Russia's lack of cooperation with OPEC+. That sparked a retaliatory measure from oil-rich Russia, which drove prices even lower.. In interviews with Business Insider and in recent notes to clients, energy sector analysts and investment strategists described where investors would be prudent to put money to work in the space - if anywhere at all.. Amid the wreckage, investors are broadly bearish on independent refiner stocks, Credit Suisse analyst Manav Gupta said in a note to clients on Monday, and most funds "remain underweight" in those names.. A quarter of investors moved to "underweight" energy positions, the lowest reading since oil prices cratered in February 2016.. Investors should look to names in the energy space that will be able to protect their dividends for shareholders, said Quincy Krosby, the chief market strategist at New Jersey-based Prudential Financial..