Analysts tip $15b result

BHP Billiton, which releases its results on Wednesday, is expected to post a 2008-09 net profit before exceptional items of around US$10.2 billion ($15.2 billion), according to a consensus forecast based on 25 analysts' projections.

That would be down 33.7 per cent on the previous financial year's US$15.39 billion.

UBS head of resources research Glyn Lawcock, who has forecast a net profit of US$10 billion and ebit of about US$18 billion, said his latest predictions were about 10 per cent lower than the forecasts made just six months ago.

Elsewhere, Bell Potter Securities has forecast BHP Billiton to generate a before-exceptionals net profit of US$9.865 billion, which would be a drop of 38.9 per cent from the previous year.

Credit Suisse predicts the mining giant's net profit before exceptionals at US$9.259 billion, with ebit at US$16.828 billion.

Credit Suisse said BHP Billiton might take the opportunity when it releases its result to announce its intention to exit the nickel market. The mining company has nickel assets worth about US$3.5 billion.

- AAP