Financial statements

Note 9 - EARNINGS/(LOSS) PER ORDINARY SHARE

	2008 Earnings US$m	2008 Weighted average number of shares (millions)	2008 Per share amount (cents)	2007 Earnings US$m	2007 Weighted average number of shares (millions)	2007 Per share amount (cents)
Basic earnings per share attributable to ordinary shareholders of Rio Tinto - continuing operations	4,503	1,283.5	350.8	7,312	1,285.8	568.7
Basic loss per share attributable to ordinary shareholders of Rio Tinto - discontinued operations	(827)	1,283.5	(64.4)	-	-	-
Total basic earnings per share - profit for the year (b)	3,676	1,283.5	286.4	7,312	1,285.8	568.7
Diluted earnings per share attributable to ordinary shareholders of Rio Tinto - continuing operations	4,503	1,289.3	349.2	7,312	1,291.3	566.3
Diluted loss per share attributable to ordinary shareholders of Rio Tinto - discontinued operations	(827)	1,289.3	(64.1)	-	-	-
Total diluted earnings per share - profit for the year (c)	3,676	1,289.3	285.1	7,312	1,291.3	566.3
Underlying earnings per share attributable to ordinary shareholders (a)
- Basic (b)	10,303	1,283.5	802.7	7,443	1,285.8	578.9
- Diluted (c)	10,303	1,289.3	799.1	7,443	1,291.3	576.4


Notes	Expand
Underlying earnings per share is calculated from Underlying earnings, detailed information on which is given in note 2. The weighted average number of shares is calculated as the average number of Rio Tinto plc shares outstanding not held as treasury shares of 997.8 million (2007: 1,000.1 million) plus the average number of Rio Tinto Limited shares outstanding not held by Rio Tinto plc of 285.7 million (2007: 285.7 million). For the purposes of calculating diluted earnings per share, the effect of dilutive securities of 5.8 million shares in 2008 (2007: 5.5 million shares) is added to the weighted average number of shares described in (b) above. This effect is calculated under the treasury stock method. The Group's only potential dilutive ordinary shares are share options for which terms and conditions are described in note 48.

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