Rio Tinto says Australian rump sold at A$48.50

SYDNEY, July 3 (Reuters) - Underwriters to global miner Rio Tinto Ltd's (RIO.AX) (RIO.L) rights issue have sold the Australian "rump" at A$48.50 each, a 6.3 percent discount to Rio's last traded price, Rio said in a statement on Friday.

Australian shareholders had taken up 94.76 percent of their entitlements to the new shares under Rio's $15.2 billion rights offer. The remaining 7.87 million shares were sold to investors through a placement. (Reporting by Denny Thomas)