Halliburton said that the market for oilfield services had reached a bottom and was poised for a rebound, a statement that initially led to a jump in its share price. However, after the company offered scant details, investors seem to have lost confidence in the outlook. Last week, the largest oilfield services company in the world, Schlumberger, offered a two-track outlook for the oil market. Internationally, years of under-investment combined with rising oil prices has led to a rebound. Companies are beginning to greenlight new projects, and drilling activity is on the upswing. At the same time, the U.S. shale industry is hurting, and years of debt-fueled drilling is giving way to more scrutiny from shareholders and a slowdown in drilling, which is bad news for the oilfield services companies. In short, Schlumberger was optimistic about its projects around the world, but concerned about what was unfolding in the […]