Range Global Coal Index ETF

COAL

Capitalización de mercado USD 54 M

Soaring gas prices are driving European utilities back to coal, with ​power generation from the most polluting fuel likely to jump by a quarter in the next six months to offset ‌a similar plunge in gas-fired generation, analysts said.

Middle East supply disruptions and record-low European storage levels have driven international natural gas benchmarks to multi-year highs. While long-term contracts insulate North American exporters from spot volatility, persistent global deficits are providing the commercial incentive necessary to accelerate a historic capacity expansion.

The Range Global Coal Index ETF (COAL) climbed 23.4% in August, outpacing both broad market equities and energy sector peers. During the month, the State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) climbed 2.7%, while the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) gained 7.4% over the same period.

President Donald Trump is expected to announce on Thursday that he will invoke Cold War-era emergency powers to direct nearly $700 million to help the U.S. coal industry ship the carbon-intensive fuel to Asia and power companies ​to burn it domestically, a White House official and industry source told Reuters.

President Donald Trump is expected to talk about his new effort to boost coal power plants and coal exports at around 3 p.m. Eastern time

Volatility has defined energy markets throughout 2026, as oil prices and equities respond to geopolitical turmoil and shifting global supply expectations. While the year began with a bearish consensus forecast for oil prices in the high $50s, escalating tensions in the Middle East have pushed crude significantly higher.

Stacey Morris, head of energy research at VettaFi, joined Nate Geraci on this week's ETF Prime to discuss energy ETFs amid the Iran conflict. Geopolitics currently dominates oil prices and energy stocks, though the sector posted strong gains before the war began, according to Morris.

While geopolitical headlines often focus on short-term volatility in the Middle East, the long-term investment case for energy remains centered on security, reliability, and North American export dominance. Stacey Morris, CFA, head of energy research at VettaFi, recently highlighted some long-term views on energy investing beyond the current oil price spike.

As Europe confronts a new energy crisis, we explore key measures to strengthen energy security beyond simply lowering energy bills, and the potential implications for business leaders. Europe now relies on a wider range of suppliers, but paradoxically, the new geopolitical situation still leaves Europe vulnerable.

The conflict in the Persian Gulf has sparked a significant re-evaluation of global energy dependencies, sending shockwaves through commodities. As oil and liquefied natural gas markets face intense volatility following strikes on critical infrastructure, coal is emerging as a pragmatic beneficiary.