Well RIO remains positive.......perhaps a little the zillions of...

Well RIO remains positive.......perhaps a little the zillions of dollars at their disposal (courtesy of China) will come fms's way

Rio Tinto: China to lead recovery in metals demand
Mon Mar 16, 2009 8:31pm EDT Email | Print | Share| Reprints | Single Page[-] Text [+]
SYDNEY (Reuters) - Rio Tinto Ltd/Plc (RIO.L) (RIO.AX) sees demand for metals and minerals picking up rapidly once economic activity recovers, driven by a sharp recovery in Chinese demand.

In the company's annual report, released on Tuesday, Chairman Paul Skinner also said a need to rebuild stockpiles of minerals after cutbacks by many miners due to the economic slowdown would help lift demand.

"China particularly may surprise the market. It is the rate of deceleration and acceleration of the Chinese economy which drives metal demand and prices, given its major share of total global demand," Skinner said in the report.

"Just as China decelerated sharply, with a strong impact on metals demand, it will also work powerfully in the upswing."

Rio Tinto, seeking to reduce debt, has signed a $19.5