The Globe and Mail reports in its Tuesday edition that U.S. crude oil futures fell 6 per cent to $85.45 (U.S.) a barrel after earlier spiking to a near four-year high of $119.48 (U.S.). An unbylined item in The Globe reports that Allan Small Financial Group's Allan Small says, "The key issue is how long the oil price shock lasts and how much damage it inflicts before easing as a prolonged spike in energy costs could revive inflation pressures and even raise the risk of stagflation." The stock market's intraday swings as investors digest headlines have added volatility to the trading day in recent weeks. CFRA Research's Sam Stovall says Monday's reversal in price movements shows "investors are looking for any opportunity to jump back into the equity markets." Mounting worries, combined with Friday's weaker-than-expected American employment report, raise the possibility of economic stagflation, which would trap the U.S. Federal Reserve between the two sides of its dual mandate -- price stability and full employment. Dakota Wealth's Robert Pavlik says: "That weak employment report along with rising energy prices speaks to potential stagflation. The Federal Reserve is going to be stuck between a rock and a hard place."