Compare the utility sectors I just mentioned above to the coal, non-ferrous metals and steel sectors at the bottom of the table.

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Contrarian investors, meanwhile, may want to look toward the energy and utility sectors, which are both down 7% this year and the market's biggest laggards.

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The closest correlation between greenhouse emissions and stock values appeared in the energy and utility sectors, where the specter of environmental regulations typically plays heavily into valuations.

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At home, it is heavily geared to the weak truck and bus markets and has been slow to take on Toyota and Honda in the hot minivan and sport-utility sectors.

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The big money firms like Kohlberg Kravis Roberts, Carlyle and Goldman Sachs have focused more on the mature utility and energy sectors, where many of the biggest buyouts of the past year have taken place.

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UBS's Mr. Zirin says investors who have too much money in the utility and telecom sectors, which investors tend to seek out for high yields, might want to diversify into consumer staples and industrials, which have lower yields but stronger growth characteristics.

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The big money firms like Kohlberg Kravis Roberts, Carlyle and Goldman Sachs (nyse: GS - news - people ) have focused more on the mature utility and energy sectors, where many of the biggest buyouts of the past year have taken place.

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Many of those would come from utility, mining and railroad sectors, with the greatest impact upon Rust Belt states that have many old plants (as well as electoral votes).

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