Patriot Coal Corp. reported profits of $65.2 million in the fourth quarter and $146.9 million for the year.

Read the news release on MarketWatch.

The Chinese coal industry, which saw its profits drop 50% in the 4th quarter of 2008, continues to face sluggish demand resulting from the current international crisis.  An analyst from Everbright Securities expects that the situation may "level off" in the 2nd half of 2009.

Read the article at ChinaMining.org.