MARKETS SPECTATOR: Urging a more ruthless Rio

Rio Tinto has a way to go before it appeases Clarke Wilkins.

The Citigroup analyst, despite have a 'buy' recommendation on Rio shares, has been a notorious critic of the company spending plans and been urging a rapid sale of underperforming businesses.

Yesterday’s announcement by Rio that it was selling a US nickel and copper mine and mill for $US325 million has not impressed Wilkins. He says the sale price was “below our valuation”. The sale of the mine and mill may result in an additional $US500 million in cash for Rio this year but “it is not enough to move the needle”, says Wilkins.

What Rio needs to offload, says the analysts, is the Iron Ore Company of Canada, whose net present value Wilkins estimates at $US3.6 billion, and New South Wales copper mine Northparkes, which Wilkins values at $US770 million.

If these sales can be pulled off along with a sale of coal assets then “it raises the potential for capital management in early 2014”.

At 1106 AEST Rio shares had gained $1.37, or 2.7 per cent, to $52.94. The benchmark S&P/ASX200 Index was up 55.74, or 1.2 per cent, to 4751.50.