Top miner BHP Billiton , bidding for rival Rio Tinto in what would be the world's second-biggest takeover , posted a 12.4 percent rise in full-year net profit to a record $15.4 billion , as Chinese demand stoked a commodities boom.
Year-to-end-June net profit was up from $13.4 billion the previous year and in line with analysts' forecast.
Shares in BHP, the world's biggest mining company , have fallen 5.4 percent this year to Friday's close, outperforming Australia's S&P/ASX 200 resources sector subindex , which is off 9 percent.
BHP declared a final dividend of 41 U.S. cents per share . ( Reuters )
($1=A$1.15)
$65.47 (08/18/08)
