/ 25 July 1997

Anglogold holds its own

FRIDAY, 11.00AM

ANGLO American Corporation’s gold division saw its mines producing a solid aggregate performenace in the June quarter, with production slightly up and capital expenditure on new projects up 16%.

Despite the difficult conditions in the gold market, group aggregate taxed profit was up to R396-million from R357-million in the March quarter. However, available profit, after capex, was 2% down at R221-million. Aggregate capital expenditure on “vital new projects” increased 16% to R178-million, while total gold output was up 1% to 50 943kg.

While the rand price of gold fell 1% to R52 649/kg, costs were well contained, with aggregate unit costs down 1% at R44 442/kg, though working costs rose slightly to R2,26-billion, from R2,25-billion in the March quarter.