Arch Coal, Inc. (ACI), a leading U.S. producer of steam and metallurgical coal, with interests in Appalachia, the Powder River Basin and the Western Bituminous region, reported better than expected second quarter results this morning. Net income surged 200% year-over-year to $113.0 million, or 78 cents per share, on revenues of $785.1 million, a 31% increase over the same period.

Coal stocks have been under fire on worries about falling coal prices during the past week and Patriot Coal (PCX) is one of them. However, some strategists are using the weakness to to enter substantial bull spreads using PCX September calls.

Alternative Energy is a great investment for the longer term, but what about the here and the now? Energy demand is rising faster than the supply itself. Here's how to play energy for the intermediate term.

While crude oil prices has been spasming (trying to find a direction) the last few days after hitting an all time high last week, coal continues to march ahead. globalCOAL’s NEWC weekly index reports coal trading at $138.35/tonne for the week of May 23 versus $134.85 the week before. The record high was $139.16 back on February 15th.

With Earth Day creating a lot of buzz about green energy and technology, people are desperately looking for a cheap and effective way to produce green energy. Byron King has a theory that the more expensive dirty energy resources get, the cheaper green energy will look by comparison. Check out Byron’s case.