Energy

Geopolitics is likely to play a big part in the direction of markets and investors must play close attention to events in Russia and the Middle East, according to Smith & Williamson's James Burns.

Warren Buffett sold out of two of his energy stocks - including his position in the world's largest energy company ExxonMobil - as the oil price collapse accelerated at the end of last year.

Investec Asset Management's Bradley George is leaving his role as head of commodities and resources to take up a senior position with the group in the US.

BP group chief executive Bob Dudley is expecting oil to remain at current low levels for up to three years, leading to job losses and falling investment in the oil sector.

Niall O'Shea, head of responsible investment, Royal London Asset Management

Much of the oil in the ground may never be burned, if the world's temperature continues to rise. What effect will this have on traditional oil and gas players, and where else can investors look?

Pick up almost any business publication or newspaper and you will read someone's deep thoughts about the oil price, plus a multitude of predictions about where it will go next.

Depending on how you look at the US, stockpickers are either spoilt for choice or dealing with overly expensive companies. Cormac Weldon, manager of the Artemis US Equity and US Select funds, looks at the outlook for American markets next year and beyond....

A volatile year ahead for investors

With the price of Brent crude at a four-year low, all eyes are on how OPEC will react at its crucial meeting tomorrow. In the meantime, Premier's Chris White highlights the stocks to benefit from lower prices.