- On 11/4, BHP received a objections statement from the EU regarding its bid and this followed the European Commission noting that it had concerns that the merger could lead to higher prices.
- Additionally, in late October the Australian Financial Review noted that BHP may be forced to sell some of its iron ore assets or those of Rio Tinto under expected recommendations by the EU Commission on BHP's offer

Other headlines for [RTP]

• Yesterday 09:53pm
  (CH) Steelmakers in China may seek price cuts of about 40% for their Brazilian and Australian iron ore - Australian Press- The Chinese steel mills want prices to fall to levels between 2007 and 2008.
  
• AA 1/6/2009 04:07pm
  Alcoa Inc Cutting smelting output 18%, cutting 13.5K jobs (about 13% of workforce), freezing salaries, selling certain downstream businesses; expects Q4 charges of $900-950M ($1.13-1.19/shr)- Further smelting more...
  
• AA 12/29/2008 08:09am
  Alcoa Inc Company comments on recent events, notes operations in Guinea have not been interrupted - Note: Alcoa owns Bauxite mines with Guinea's government and Rio Tinto - Guinea holds world's largest more...
  
• 12/27/2008 05:42pm
  Guinea's coup leader Camara has halted the country's mining contracts and gold extractions- The leader said that the moves are part of an anti-corruption drive. - The leader also said that mining more...
  
• RTP 12/21/2008 05:53pm
  Rio Tinto Ltd Confirms that it suspended production at the Kwinana Hlsmelt plant- The plant produces pig iron. - The plant will be suspended for 3 months due to market conditions. - The mine has 130-150 workers more...
  

Materials sector headlines

• SGL.GE Today 05:22am
  SGL Carbon Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein Cuts SGL.GE to Hold from Buy
  
• ROH Today 03:51am
  Rohm and Haas Company EU commission clears merger with Dow Chemical- Note: On 11.25, Dow Chemical re-notifies EU on Rohm purchase - Withdraws original notification to support second application. - EU to decide on more...
  
• RIO.UK Today 02:17am
  Rio Tinto Ltd DB Cuts RIO.UK to Hold from Buy
  
• 5406.JP Today 02:07am
  Kobe Steel Sees securities valuation loss of ¥15.8B- The Japanese steelmaker said it will book the write-down as a special loss, which could push down the company''s net earnings if not offset by special more...
  
• XTA.UK Today 01:46am
  Xstrata Merrill Lynch Cuts XTA.UK to Neutral from Buy