Rio Tinto launches debt buy-back programme

Rio Tinto launched its second debt buy-back programme in as many months on Tuesday.

The global mining group offered to repurchase up to $3bn of debt maturing in 2018, 2020 and 2022, but with priority having been assigned to the shortest of those maturities.

The deadline to take-up its offer on the 2018 notes was set for 17:00 EST on 13 June.

In April, the company carried out a successful buyback of another $1.5bn in debt maturing in 2017 and 2018.

Stock in Rio Tinto closed 0.15% lower at 2,012.5p.