BHP Billiton FY09 Net Profit US$5.88 Billion, Down 61.8%
August 12 2009 - 2:37AM
Dow Jones News
BHP Billiton Ltd. (BHP.AU) said Wednesday its full year net
profit fell 61.8% to US$5.88 billion from US$15.39 billion last
year, breaking a run of six consecutive record annual results for
the world's biggest miner as a slump in commodity prices took its
toll.
The miner posted attributable profit excluding exceptional items
for the 12 months ended June 30 of US$10.72 billion, down from
US$15.37 billion in fiscal 2008 but ahead of average analyst
forecasts for US$10.2 billion.
The miner said the stimulus policies of the Chinese Government
had provided strong support to short-term economic growth but there
remains uncertainty about global economic growth.
"Structural economic problems will take time to correct and may
hold back growth over the medium term," the miner said in a
statement.
BHP's revenue for the year fell 15.6% to US$50.21billion from
US$59.47 billion in 2008 and BHP posted a final dividend of 41 U.S.
cents a share, in line with last year and with analyst
expectations.
-By Alex Wilson, Dow Jones Newswires; 61-3-9292-2094;
alex.wilson@dowjones.com
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