Dallas economist Bud Weinstein prays every night for $60 oil — give or take five bucks a barrel. That’s the sweet spot, he says, where the U.S. economy gets a boost without putting the brakes on oil-producing states such as Texas. Lately, West Texas Intermediate crude has been fluctuating at the lower end of Weinstein’s nirvana zone. The price of oil has been cut nearly in half since June, punished by too much oil for a slowing world economy and piling on by speculators. Oil prices tried to stabilize midweek, bolstered by indications of stronger demand from China and word that billionaire Harold Hamm, a kingpin in the North Dakota shale play, will scale back his company’s growth plans next year. But the reprieve was temporary with West Texas Intermediate ending Friday at $54.73 a barrel, down another $1.79 for the week. When oil is selling for $55 to […]