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Johannesburg - A weaker rand currency helped lift full-year earnings at Northam Platinum [JSE:NHM] by 69% on Thursday, although the mining company said the outlook remained uncertain and it declined to pay a dividend.
Headline earnings per share for the 12 months to end-June totaled 136.5 cents from 80.9 cents a year earlier. Headline EPS, the main profit measure in South Africa, excludes certain one-time items.
Sales increased 20%, even as the production of metals in concentrate remained flat at 9 million kilograms following a strike.
Northam said its financial performance will depend largely on international metal prices and a peaceful and productive labour force.
South African platinum miners, including industry leader Anglo American Platinum [JSE:AMS], are struggling to recover after their operations were brought to a halt by extended illegal strikes late last year.
More than 50 people were killed in labour unrest last year, including 34 shot by police at Lonmin's Marikana mine in August last year, the deadliest single security incident in South Africa since apartheid ended in 1994.
Shares of Northam have gained almost 6% this year so far, outperforming the JSE's Platinum Index which has fallen around 19%.
Headline earnings per share for the 12 months to end-June totaled 136.5 cents from 80.9 cents a year earlier. Headline EPS, the main profit measure in South Africa, excludes certain one-time items.
Sales increased 20%, even as the production of metals in concentrate remained flat at 9 million kilograms following a strike.
Northam said its financial performance will depend largely on international metal prices and a peaceful and productive labour force.
South African platinum miners, including industry leader Anglo American Platinum [JSE:AMS], are struggling to recover after their operations were brought to a halt by extended illegal strikes late last year.
More than 50 people were killed in labour unrest last year, including 34 shot by police at Lonmin's Marikana mine in August last year, the deadliest single security incident in South Africa since apartheid ended in 1994.
Shares of Northam have gained almost 6% this year so far, outperforming the JSE's Platinum Index which has fallen around 19%.
