Bloomberg reported that BHP Billiton Ltd., making a $73.8 billion hostile bid for Rio Tinto Group, said that it is supplying information requested by Japan's Fair Trade Commission.

Mr Illtud Harri a BHP spokesman said that “They have requested certain information from us in connection with their enquiries into the offer. We are in the process of supplying the information and will continue to assist them.''

The Age, citing Mr Katsunori Inaguma chief investigator on the case, reported that the commission demanded BHP hand over the information by November 17th 2008.