Forecast

TECO Energy raised its earnings forecast for this year and next,saying its core businesses are expected to post 10% growth, leadingto a 2000 upside for the company at 10 to 15 cents per share.

Demonstrating the volatile nature of the stock market this week,Dynegy’s stock price dropped almost 7% yesterday despite ChuckWatson, CEO of Dynegy, announcing that the company expects firstquarter earnings to be 20% higher than industry estimates.

Fueled by forecasts calling for cooler weather next week,natural gas futures rumbled higher yesterday as traders cashed inon newly established short positions. After opening above keyresistance at $2.36, the January contract moved sideways for mostof the session before erupting higher at the closing bell. TheJanuary contract finished just a fraction of a penny off its dailyhigh, up 8.9 cents to $2.393.

CIG said Monday current weather conditions and the short-rangeforecast would allow it to lift today the OFO that took effect Nov.11. However, because of high storage inventories and the resultantinflexibility in handling excess positive imbalances orabove-contract injections, the pipeline declared a StrainedOperating Condition effective today until further notice. Nopayback nominations are being accepted.

As producers get organized for a forecast big push to acceleratedevelopment of Canadian natural-gas supplies, a hot market in fieldassets is emerging.

As producers get organized for a forecast big push to acceleratedevelopment of Canadian natural-gas supplies, a hot market in fieldassets is emerging.

Cash prices across the board Friday displayed softness for thesecond day in a row, reflecting a moderating weather forecast forthe weekend and further into this week. Despite a small late bounceback in some markets, prices in most areas finished the dayaveraging 1 to 10 cents less than Thursday’s levels.