UPDATE 1-BHP Billiton half-year profit slides, ahead of forecasts
February 23, 2015 at 17:21 PM EST
MELBOURNE, Feb 24 (Reuters) - Global miner BHP Billiton posted a 31 percent drop in half-year profit as prices for all its main products collapsed, but beat market forecasts and flagged further belt tightening to withstand the tough conditions.