LOOKS LIKE A BIG DAY FOR NATURAL RESOURCE PARTNERS....WAITING FOR C.P.I....AND STAR GAS CUTS ITS LOSSES!

Natural Resource Partners (NRP)and its GP (NSP) along with the other coal mlp Alliance Resource Partners (ARLP)and its GP (AHGP) have not really participated in the MLP rally as they react to coal and the downtrend its been in for most of this year. Well Natural Resource Partners is looking at some nice upside today as it announced a major deal last night picking up more coal reserves. In addition Citi-group upgrades the stock to buy from hold and raises its target from 55 to 60 bucks citing this deal. Two other coal stocks...Consol Energy (CNX) and Arch Coal (ACI) getting mentioned by Banc of America this morning..neutral on CNX and a buy on ACI.

Its been my policy in general not to blog about those MLPS which are either too small or are in financial difficulty but i am making an exception this morning. Remember Star Gas Partners (SGU) which went from 20 to 1...restructured and now sits around $2.50 per unit? They deal with home heating oil. It doesn't pay a distribution but it reported earnings today as its loss narrows. I mention this as a pure Las Vegas diceroll play...like buying a call option...but if this company does get its act together and starts paying a distribution again in 2008 which btw was its projection when it restructured...then it might be worth a play. But this is again like putting money on the roulette wheel. I just throw it out there for you. Do your research!!!!

Outside of the NRP citigroup upgrade its quiet in the group this morning and their are no other corporate headlines at lease so far.

F.Y.I. Crosstex (XTXI) will split 3 for 1 and will begin trading at the split adjusted price on Monday 12/18.

Having some chart trouble this mornin. I'll post some charts a.s.a.p.