energy companies were also big winners today, as crude oil futuregained more than 2 llars in new yortring. shares of noble, dmond offshore and national oil well varco each gained about 4%. offshore driller transocean rose more than 4 percent as at least 3 analysts raised their price targets on the company. turning to natural gas, there's a deal in the making. atlas resource partners has inked an agreement to buy the natgas reserves from carrizo oil & gas. the reserves are located in the texas barnett shale, and the deal is worth just under $200 million. atlas sourceartners jumped nearly 32 percent to 28.30. while carizzo rose a modest 1 percent. there was also heavy buying again today in the beleaguered coal sector. consol energy and peabody energy each climbed about 5 percent. ---ots--- meanwhile, analysts at lazard capital urged clients to plant cash in fertilzer stocks as farmers gear up for spring planting. shares of mosaic and potash corp of saskatchewan jumped more than 4 percent. packaging firm rock-tenn was under pressure today, after management warned second quarter earnings woul