Rio Tinto Limited (ASX:RIO) has reported a 34 per cent drop in its underlying earnings, coming in at $US5.15 billion for the first half of its 2012 financial year.
The global miner’s result was impacted by softening commodity prices and a strong Australian dollar over the first six months of 2012.
CEO Tom Albanese says the company is confident in the long term outlook and remains well positioned to deliver shareholder value over the long term.
An interim dividend 72.5 US cents per share has been declared, up 34 per cent from the year before.
