PREMARKET ALERT: Alpha Natural Resources (ANR)

Alpha Natural Resources Inc. (NYSE: ANR) shares are down 2 percent to $33.47 on volume of about 1,400 shares as of 8:15 a.m. Eastern. The company said it has seen some early signs of a turnaround in the steel markets, which could buoy coal demand. But the company reported earnings of 22 cents a share, 16 cents below analyst expectations. Revenue fell 45 percent from the same period a year earlier.