BHP Billiton posts half-year net loss of US$5.67 billion

Global mining giant BHP Billiton Tuesday posted a first-half net loss of US$5.67 billion and slashed dividends as plunging commodity prices on the back of a slowing Chinese economy hammered the bottom line. "Slower growth in China and the disruption of OPEC have resulted in lower prices than expected," said chief executive Andrew Mackenzie. The Anglo-Australian miner has been hard hit by falling prices for its two main commodities, iron ore and oil, with the company scrapping a long-held pledge