Target $18.72, page-5930

'The Economist' (often left wing) has a surprisingly optimistic report about the future of coal, stating that miners have been easily able to refinance, mentioning how in the future Australia 'may supply less but charge more', suggesting that coal demand remains very good, that Columbia and South Africa will lose out (as Europe won't take as much coal, it's implying) and inter alia that it'll remain being supplied for many years.

It highlighted the coal port of Newcastle NSW, and said 'rich countries' such as Japan and South Korea were using Oz's thermal coal, and developing countries in southeast Asia such as Malaysia needed more, also mentioning Vietnam (but omitting others like Philippines where demand is also apparently rising).

It also mentioned how Australian listed coal miners have $6 billion in cash and quotes one CFO who said its biggest problem is 'what to do with the cash'.