In the most recent quarter, the industry's profitability leader, AK Steel, earned $51 a ton shipped, while others were doing about half as well.

This summer, AK Steel experimented with injecting enough pure oxygen to raise the concentration to 33 percent.

The company was formally renamed AK Steel in 1993 when it became a publicly traded company.

The agreement also authorized AK Steel to suspend the minimum number.

Known today as AK Steel, the industry remains a major employer in northeastern Kentucky.

Those pillars of the city, such as Armco (today's AK Steel) began reducing their workforce in an effort to stay competitive.

Like many publicly traded companies, AK Steel, which makes products for cars, appliances and other uses, is the subject of a message board on Yahoo.

Nonetheless, some analysts said that AK Steel had been slow to enter the fray.

Shares of AK Steel and other steel companies have since recovered.

Inland and AK Steel each rose more than 5 percent.