Business

Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon says he has closed a deal with another Chinese province to import products from Missouri.

Nixon said Thursday the government of Zhejiang Province has agreed to import $100 million of Missouri products over the coming years. The province also agreed to help facilitate an additional $100 million of investment in Missouri businesses.

Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon says a Chinese province has agreed to increase its imports from Missouri by $100 million over the next three years.

Nixon's announcement Wednesday about the Hebei province came as part a weeklong trade trip to China. The governor previously announced that a new agreement with the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade would increase imports of Missouri goods by $1 billion over three years.

Coal-mining giant Peabody Energy Corp. says its third-quarter earnings climbed 22 percent and demand for coal is still rising for power generation in Asia and Europe.

Separately, Peabody says the steel maker ArcelorMittal has pulled out of their joint bid to buy Australia's Macarthur Coal Ltd. for about $5 billion, and will sell its interest to Peabody.

Peabody shares fell 1.7 percent to $40.25 in premarket trading.