To see the state of the coal markets all you have to do is look at the stock market

摘要

The effects of an economic recession, or so they say, are felt worst when it reaches its nadir and an upturn effectively has begun. I suppose it's somewhat analogous to a fever breaking - the hard chills, the deep perspiration, the nightmares... then out on the other side, weakened but at the beginning of true recovery. Misery has deepened in most quarters of the U.S. coal industry. One need look no further than the horrific positions of public company stock prices. The share prices of Alpha Natural Resources, Arch Coal, James River Coal and Patriot Coal all are under 10 bucks.