BHP boss: nationalism a potential threat to world economy

Despite huge profit, BHP's Andrew Mackenzie is cautious on global outlook

The rise of nationalism and governments that interfere in markets pose a threat to the global economic system, the boss of BHP, the world's biggest mining company, has warned.

Despite announcing a 124% rise in profits to $US8.31bn (6.84bn), helped by booming iron ore sales to China, Andrew Mackenzie said on Tuesday that there were "a number of things abroad" that were causing concern for the Anglo-Australian behemoth.