(EnergyAsia, May 12 2011, Thursday) — US-based Peabody Energy Corp said strong coal demand in the US and Asia boosted prices and raise its first-quarter profit by almost a third.The St. Louis-based company’s net income increased to US$176.5 million, or US$0.65 a share, from US$133.7 million, or US$0.50 cents, in the same quarter last year.Sales…