Dec 23, 2011 -- Power-station coal prices at Australia’s Newcastle port, an Asian benchmark, rose 2.3 percent in the week ended today.

Coal prices at the New South Wales port increased to $112.85 a metric ton from $110.28 the previous week, according to the globalCOAL NEWC Index.

Xstrata Plc (XTA), the world’s largest exporter of power-station coal, BHP Billiton Ltd. (BHP) and Rio Tinto Group (RIO) are among mining companies that ship coal through Newcastle.