Nuclear Reactor Shutdowns Could Force Korea to Boost Coal Purchases Five Star Equities Provides Stock Research on Alpha Natural Resources and Peabody Energy

NEW YORK, NY -- (Marketwire) -- 04/19/12 -- The Coal Industry has been hit hard recently as a glut of natural gas, and slow growth in China has threatened demand. The PowerShares Global Coal fund has fallen more than 34.3% over the last year. Five Star Equities examines the outlook for companies in the Coal Mining Industry and provides equity research on Alpha Natural Resources, Inc. (NYSE: ANR) and Peabody Energy Corporation (NYSE: BTU).

Access to the full company reports can be found at:

www.fivestarequities.com/ANR

www.fivestarequities.com/BTU

Things may be turning around for the industry as recent problems with a reactor in South Korea, and recent shutdowns of Japanese reactors could be signs that coal will see a rapid increase in demand in 2012. A recent Bloomberg article stated that the Kori 1 reactor in South Korea was closed for safety checks on March 13. Five weeks after a power failure caused the temperature of its core to rise. If the reactor remains shut Korea will look to boosting coal purchases to replace the nuclear power generated by the reactor.

"Economically, coal is the best," said Osamu Fujisawa, an independent energy economist in Tokyo who estimates coal imports may gain as much as 2.45 million metric tons a year. "If you're trying to increase summer power generation, coal is the best in terms of cost."

Five Star Equities releases regular market updates on the Coal Mining Industry so investors can stay ahead of the crowd and make the best investment decisions to maximize their returns. Take a few minutes to register with us free at www.fivestarequities.com and get exclusive access to our numerous stock reports and industry newsletters.

Alpha Natural Resources, a leading U.S. coal producer, plans to report its first quarter 2012 results before the market opens on Thursday, May 3, 2012. A conference call to review the results and current business conditions is scheduled to follow at 10:00 a.m. EDT that morning.

Peabody Energy is the world's largest private-sector coal company and a global leader in clean coal solutions. With 2011 sales of 251 million tons and $8 billion in revenues, Peabody fuels 10 percent of U.S. power and 2 percent of worldwide electricity. On Thursday, April 19, 2012, Peabody Energy will announce the results for the quarter ended March 31, 2012.

Five Star Equities provides Market Research focused on equities that offer growth opportunities, value, and strong potential return. We strive to provide the most up-to-date market activities. We constantly create research reports and newsletters for our members. Five Star Equities has not been compensated by any of the above-mentioned companies. We act as an independent research portal and are aware that all investment entails inherent risks. Please view the full disclaimer at:
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