With the fourth quarter’s earning season in full swing now, investors have, for the most part, been pleasantly surprised. Though many companies have exceeded expectations, earnings estimates for several commodity producers remain rather bearish as global economic uncertainties and demand concerns have left many understandably leery. Last week, leading oil and gas equipment and services provider Schlumberger ( SLB ) missed analysts’ estimates, reporting fourth quarter net earnings that fell an abysmal 3.7%. Aluminum giant Alcoa ( AA ), however, reported revenues well above expectations, and the company predicts aluminum demand growth to rise in 2013–-a crucial and positive indicator for the global economy. This Friday, investors will shift their focus to two major commodity producers; Weyerhaeuser ( WY ) and Halliburton ( HAL ) [for more commodity news and analysis subscribe to our free newsletter ]. See the full story here → Related Posts: How To Profit From Record U.S. Oil Production 10 Ways to Invest in Fracking The Largest Private Landowners in the U.S. U.S. to Top Saudi Arabia’s Oil Production The World’s 5 Largest Oil Consumers