It is an open secret that the global electric power industry of which the coal industry forms a part is experiencing a system-wide reduction in both volumes and prices of energy resources.
It will be 12 to 18 months before there will even be any signs of a recovery in the eastern US coal sector says Monty Boyd, a major Caterpillar supplier for the region.
When Leily Omoumi, a gold analyst with Scotiabank in Toronto, turns her engineer's eye on a mining company, she can translate insight into profits for investors.
Diversified miner Xstrata (LON:XTA) and commodities trader Glencore International (LON:GLEN) have now until October 1 to decided on the $36 billion lauded merger.
Rio Tinto (ASX:RIO) continues the recent spate of mining sector retrenchments with job cuts at its Clermont thermal coal mine in Australia's north-east.