This morning, all of the leading airline stocks are trading higher. This sector has been fairly strong since mid-March 2012. This is exact time when oil topped out after trading as high as $110.00 a barrel. As you all know, oil is the largest expense for an airline outside of labor costs. Today, light sweet crude is trading lower by 0.72 cents to $82.60 a barrel.    ...

The Dow Jones Transportation ETF (NYSEARCA:IYT) is one of the most important charts that any trader can follow. Many investors believe that the transportation index should lead or confirm the Dow Jones Industrial Average in order for the markets to continue to climb. Lately, the IYT has pulled back from it recent high made on March 19, 2012 at $96.22.

This morning, the leading transportation stocks are having trouble catching a bid higher. A case can be made that the high price of crude will keep many of the transport stocks under pressure. The iShares Dow Jones Transportation ETF (NYSEARCA:IYT) is trading lower by 0.32 cents to $91.66 a share. Short term traders can watch for intra-day support around the $91.17, and $90.80 levels.

All of the major airline stocks have been coming under some heavy selling pressure since early February 2012. The catalyst for the decline in the airlines sector has been the sharp increase in oil. Crude has been soaring higher by more than $100.00 a barrel since early February and this happens to coincide with the decline in the airline stocks.