Bloomberg reported that Rio Tinto Group, trying to prevent a USD 65 billion hostile takeover by BHP Billiton, delayed investor meetings scheduled for November 2008 in Sydney and London so that it can weigh the effects of the global financial crisis.

Ms Amanda Buckley spokeswoman Rio said that “We will review the timing early in the new year when we can better assess the impact of recent market turbulence on our short medium term plans.''.

She added that Rio had planned to hold financial community seminars in Sydney on November. 25th 2008 and in London on November 27th 2008.