26 Nov 2008  |   12:00am IST

BHP-Billiton-abandons-bid-for-Rio-Tinto

NEW YORK, NOV 25 BHP Billiton Ltd, the world?s biggest mining company, abandoned a hostile Rs 3,40,612 crore takeover bid for rival Rio Tinto Ltd, blaming the global economic downturn and plunging commodity prices.