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Northam Platinum alerts of earnings fall as low PGM costs continue

South Africa's Northam Platinum warned of a sharp fall in profit on Wednesday, saying it anticipated an uncertain international financial outlook to keep platinum group metal (PGM) costs low for some time.

The company's share cost fell 4% in early trade.

It stated its heading incomes per share for the year to June 30 could fall by as much as 87% to between 3.24 rand and 5.66 rand from 24.15 the previous year.

This is generally due to a 35.5% fall in the rand price for its metals and in spite of a 7.3% boost in sales volumes, Northam stated in a trading statement.

The company's share cost fell 4% in early trade.

The current cost environment might last for a long time and this, combined with higher general inflation, is putting pressure on the whole PGM sector, Northam said.

Northam's bigger rival Impala Platinum on Aug. 7. said it will report a standard loss of approximately 17.8 billion rand. after lower metal prices caused $1 billion of disabilities. since of the decline in the value of its properties.

The world's biggest PGM manufacturer Anglo American Platinum. stated its revenue fell 18% to 6.5 billion rand in the 6. months to June 30, weighed down by restructuring expenses after it. cut 3,700 tasks to reduce spending in addition to the impact of. lower metal costs.

Northam will release its monetary results on Aug. 30.

(source: Reuters)