Original article by Rose Powell
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 21 : 12-Jun-15

Fitch Ratings has maintained BHP Billiton’s "A+" credit rating, but the resources group’s long-term issuer rating has been downgraded from "stable" to "negative". The firm has cited factors such as a likely decline in BHP’s free cash flow following the demerger of South32. Meanwhile, Fitch has retained Rio Tinto’s "A+" rating and upgraded the group’s outlook from "negative" to
"stable". Fitch expects the price of iron ore to average $US50 per tonne in 2015-16.

CORPORATES
FITCH RATINGS LIMITED, BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP, RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, SOUTH32 LIMITED – ASX S32, ANGLO AMERICAN PLC