IN BRIEF (Page 17)

BHP, Rio forecasts cut

BHP Billiton Ltd and Rio Tinto Group had their earnings forecasts cut at UBS AG after the bank lowered its estimates for coking coal prices as steelmakers limit output.

BHP's profit may be $13.3 billion in the year ending June 30, 2009, 7 percent lower than previously forecast, UBS analysts led by Glyn Lawcock said in a Dec 19 report. Rio's profit may be $6 billion in the year ending Dec 31, 2009, he said. That's 5.6 percent lower than previously estimated.