"The way this 'sensitive' information reached the market via the...

"The way this 'sensitive' information reached the market via the media and not the company is troublesome and raises some serious questions."

It does indeed, but that's the way the free press operates in Australia. Fortescue obviously thought that discussion with their bankers as a way to head off problems, should they occur if the iron ore situation does not improve, was routine and prudent. But the press turned it in to a bad-news story, and the rest is history.

Some companies cop it all the time, and others escape all the time. Its not fair, but it is reality. In my opinion the press make asses of themselves and mostly have zero credibility. I don't take any notice of them, but I do take note of the effect they have on my companies.