Rio Tinto H1 Earnings Rise - Quick Facts

(RTTNews) - Anglo-Australian mining giant Rio Tinto Plc (RTNTF, RIO, RIO.L, RTPPF) reported a surge in first-half 2014 net earnings to $4.4 billion, from $1.72 billion in the year-ago period. Also, the company announced a 21 percent increase in first-half underlying earnings to $5.1 billion.

Six-month earnings per share from continuing operations jumped to 237.0 cents, from the prior-year figure of 92.6 cents per share. On an underlying basis, basic per-share earnings came in at 276.8 cents.

During the first half of 2014, consolidated sales revenue from continuing operations reached $24.34 billion.

Rio Tinto's capital expenditure reduced to $3.6 billion in 2014 first half, with 2014 capex now expected to be nearly $9 billion, $2 billion below its prior outlook, with capex in 2015 expected at around $8 billion. Beyond 2015, capex is expected to be maintained at around $8 billion a year in the medium term.

In addition, the firm announced an increased interim dividend by 15 percent to 96 US cents per share.