(Micro Cap News) New York - Shares of a China-based coal company, Sino Clean Energy (OTCBB: SCLX), soared Friday closing up over 32% after being touted by TheStreet.com as a "top China coal stock to buy now".

A quick look at the Company's website found that it discloses a capacity of 350,000 tons of coal water mix yet press releases displayed in the United States claim twice that capacity.

A recent flood at a Chinese coal mine brought a new bought of media coverage on China's growing safety issues at coal mines. Reuters pointed out that a government-owned coal mining operation was consolidating small, privately-owned mines to better manage safety issues, thought he story itself testifies to the growing demand for energy in China that could have added to the lust to buy into Sino Clean Energy's shares.

But micro cap investors can't overlook the fact that trading in SCLX took off after Rick Pearson touted the company's stock on Tuesday and again Friday morning, when Sino Clean Energy shares closed up 17 cents, or 32.08%, at $0.70 on nearly ten times the 90-day daily average volume.

A quick look at Mr. Pearson's background shows he is a 'private investor' living in Beijing that happens to submit whatever he pleases for publication on Thestreet.com as a "senior contributor." No disclosure in Pearson's stories as to his owning shares in any of the companies he writes about was given, though considering his background is investing in Chinese companies listed on US stock markets, I can only assume he holds positions in those stocks.

Thestreet.com's About Us page says, "Thestreet.com has distinguished itself from other financial Web sites with its journalistic excellence and unbiased coverage."

Under thestreet.com's Conflicts and Disclosure Policies page it says EMPLOYEES can't own stock in other companies: "TheStreet.com, Inc. does not permit any employees on its editorial staff to individually hold positions in individual stocks." Yet further down the page it says Contributing Columnists may own stock - but its disclosed. There is no mention of "Senior Contributors" who aren't columnists, like Mr. Pearson.

Note: Micro Cap News is a newly-formed partnership of online news publishers through the World City Press Syndicate. Micro cap news articles are appearing on US news network AXcess News in advance of the launch of the beta news website. Alan Fein is an AXcess news staff reporter.