Publications
Partners
Johannesburg - Sibanye Gold [JSE:SGL] maintained its full-year forecasts after output rose and costs declined in the first quarter when compared with the same period in 2015.
Sibanye is on track to produce 1.61 million ounces this year at an all-in sustaining cost of $880 an ounce, the Westonaria-based company said in a statement on Monday. Production increased 14% to 360 800 ounces in the first quarter from a year earlier while costs declined 28% to $895 an ounce.
Sibanye, rebounding from operational problems in the first quarter of last year, is attempting to capitalize on a gold price that’s up 16% so far in 2016 and a local currency, in which it pays costs, that has weakened by the same amount against the dollar in the past 12 months.
The stock has more than doubled this year, which chief executive officer Neal Froneman says provides an opportunity to make acquisitions in addition to Aquarius Platinum [JSE:AQP] and three Anglo American Platinum [JSE:AMS] mines.
The financial performance 'reflects a solid and expected recovery from the March 2015 quarter which was impacted by a number of one off events,' Sibanye said in the statement.
The stock declined 4.7% to R51.39 a share, the lowest since February 25, as gold declined as much as $15 Friday after the South African stock market closed. The precious metal was 0.1% higher at $1 234.03 an ounce at 09:50.
