However, gold prices are rising, bringing much needed relief to those miners. Last month, FBR Capial said met coal prices have fallen to a point where they will no longer cover cash costs, even for low-cost producers and the firm metallurgical coal prices could fall to their lowest levels since 2009, according to Street Insider.
Metallurgical, or coking, coal is a key ingredient in the production of steel and integral part of the production equation for many KOL holdings, including Peabody and Walter. That says KOL will need a sustained bounce in met coal prices to enjoy a sustained bounce of its own.
Market Vectors Coal ETF
ETF Trends editorial team contributed to this piece.