The benchmark for U.S. crude oil prices was treading water in early Tuesday trading, one day after a report showed few signs of a slowdown in the shale boom. West Texas Intermediate for December delivery was still struggling to break the $80 per barrel mark in early trading Tuesday, though prices were relatively stable at $77.44 per barrel. Long-term traded contracts show WTI moving closer to the $78 mark through mid 2015. Crude oil is in a bear market, shedding about 20 percent of the price per barrel since June. Several energy companies and industry groups have cut their long-term investment forecasts because of the slump in oil prices. Market observers have said the downward trend is part of an effort by […]