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by Stockwatch Business Reporter

West Texas Intermediate crude for November delivery lost 70 cents to $50.60 on the New York Merc, while Brent for December lost 69 cents to $56.25 (all figures in this para U.S.). Western Canadian Select traded at a discount of $11.15 to WTI ($39.45), unchanged. Natural gas for November added 10 cents to $2.99. The TSX energy index lost 3.07 points to close at 182.88.

Albertans had good reason to be upbeat today, after the province's latest land sale brought in the highest total in nearly six years. Bids in yesterday's sale came to $124-million, marking the first time they have topped $100-million since Dec. 14, 2011, when the province took in $145-million. Sales dropped precipitously after 2011 and were not at all helped by the oil price crash in 2014. For the entirety of 2016, which was province's worst year for land sales since it adopted its current system in 1977, sales came to just $137-million. This year has seen a lovely rally, with year-to-date sales now at $412-million. Nearly one-third of that total poured in at yesterday's $124-million sale. By comparison, the previous 2017 record was set at a February sale that brought in $35-million.

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