/ 26 January 2005

Harmony at three-year low

World number six gold miner Harmony Gold on Wednesday fell to a fresh three-year of R50 a share on the JSE Securities Exchange. This was attributable to the fall in the price of group’s American Depository Receipt (ADR) in the United States due to the lower gold price, brokers said.

At 10.20am, Harmony shares were quoted at R50,70, down 3,7% or R1,94 from the stock’s previous close. In early trade the share fell to R50, it lowest level since November 22 2001.

“All the gold stocks listed in the US — AngloGold Ashanti, Gold Fields and Harmony — lost ground overnight on big volumes and Harmony is falling in tandem with its ADR move,” a Johannesburg broker said.

Harmony will release its December quarterly and interim results next week on February 3.

The gold miner is expected to have produced its sixth consecutive quarterly headline loss during the December quarter, with the group seen reporting a headline loss per share of 80 cents from a loss of 110 cents in the September quarter.

Analyst forecasts range from a 15 cents loss to a 137 cents loss per share, according to a survey of analysts conducted by I-Net Bridge. — I-Net Bridge