From the AFR:
When Rio reports this week, analysts’ consensus is for underlying earnings to shrink to $US2.4 billion, from $US5.1 billion in the year-earlier period.
…Despite the cash flow squeeze, Deutsche mining analyst Paul Young says savings from expected cuts to capital spend, from an already reduced target of $US7bn, and continuing cost cutting “should underpin another buyback in February 2016”. Rio unveiled a $US2bn buyback in February this year that is still ongoing.