Anglo Platinum, the world’s top producer of the precious metal, said on Monday that first-half headline earnings are expected to increase slightly because of higher sales and prices.
The miner, majority-owned by Anglo American, said headline earnings per share for the six months to the end of June are expected to rise to between 1 131 and 1 336 cents from 1 028 cents the previous year.
Headline EPS are the main profit gauge in South Africa and strip out certain one-time items.
“The expected increase in headline earnings is primarily due to higher rand prices achieved on metals sold and higher sales volumes,” the company said in a statement.
The miner, which will report its results on July 25, has said it expects to refine and sell 2.6-million ounces of platinum this year.
But this output target could be threatened with the National Union of Mineworkers threatening a possible strike against the company. – Reuters