Here's What Will Move Energy Stocks

With winter on the doorstep, it's a good time to think about what will impact energy equities during the final 31 days of 2005. This year has been very good for energy investors, especially compared to most other sectors of the market. However, investing is all about what will happen in the future.

I won't attempt to predict the weather, but here's a quick list of factors that will likely dictate energy trading in the coming weeks:

Weather: As winter begins, there will be no bigger variable affecting commodity prices than the temperature outside your window. It has been an unseasonably warm fall, which has pressured commodity prices. However, when the mercury drops, it's usually a pretty good time to invest in energy. So, more than anything, watch the weather maps: The coming cold snap in the Northeast will likely provide support for energy.

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