BHP Billiton has been bullish about commodity markets. It has ambitious plans over the next five to 10 years, and appears unconcerned by the recent credit crisis or a potential economic downturn. In the reporting period to December 2007 BHP completed seven big projects, with a total capital investment of US$6bn, and is developing 14 other major projects worth $9,4bn. In the context of its aggressive bid for Rio Tinto, financial performance is a sideshow.