Roll out the barrel

Dot-coms may be dropping like flies, but oil stocks are riding high. Industry-wide rises suggest a sustainable resurgence in the fortunes of the sector, with oil companies suddenly the unlikely poster children for an old economy love-fest. Many oil stocks have enjoyed significant rises with big names like Exxon, Shell and BP Amoco reporting hefty profits. But are these improvements the sign of a thoroughbred's return to consistent form or just a short-term flush of success while the course