BHP Billiton drops Rio Tinto takeover SYDNEY – The world's biggest miner BHP Billiton Tuesday said it was dropping its hostile takeover bid for rival Rio Tinto amid the current financial crisis.

Asian demand to continue says BHP Billiton chairman SYDNEY - Asian economic growth will slow at some point but demand for raw materials from countries such as China is expected to continue, the chairman of the world's largest mining company said Wednesday.

Rio Tinto half-year profit surges to $6.9bln SYDNEY - Mining giant Rio Tinto said Tuesday it had more than doubled first-half net profit to a record 6.91 billion US dollars (3.76 billion pounds) as it continues to fend off a hostile takeover bid by rival BHP Billiton.

Asciano reports 2.7-bln-dlr takeover bid SYDNEY - Australia's biggest ports and rail operator Asciano Group said Monday it had received a 2.9-billion-dollar (2.7-billion-US) takeover bid from a private equity consortium. The joint bid by TPG Capital and Global Infrastructure Partners offers