Rio Tinto employee seeks bail

Detained Rio Tinto employee Wang Yong has applied for bail and the decision from Shanghai authorities could come as early as today.

Wang is among four Shanghai-based employees of the Australian iron giant who are awaiting trial on charges of stealing trade secrets and involvement in bribery.

The men are accused of selling information that Chinese authorities believe put its steel makers at a disadvantage in iron ore price talks with the world's second largest iron ore supplier.