Centamin earnings jump on strong gold prices, higher Egypt mine output

Centamin earnings jump on strong gold prices, higher Egypt mine output

Gold prices have surged about 30% so far this year, supported mainly by lower interest rates and widespread stimulus measures by global central banks to ease the economic blow from the pandemic







Reuters

, Tuesday 4 Aug 2020







File photo: Sukari mine, Egypt's only operating gold mine (Photo: Centamin's Website)













Gold miner Centamin Plc reported higher first-half pretax profit on Tuesday, buoyed by increased output from its Sukari mine in Egypt and rising bullion prices on coronavirus driven safe-haven demand.

Shares of the company were up 1.2% to 209.98 pence at 0703 GMT.

Gold prices have surged about 30% so far this year, supported mainly by lower interest rates and widespread stimulus measures by global central banks to ease the economic blow from the pandemic.

This has boosted mining companies, such as Centamin, to embark on expansion opportunities.

Centamin, which recently terminated talks with Endeavour Mining Corp for a possible takeover, said pretax profit rose to $191 million for the first-half ended June 30, compared with $59.6 million a year ago.

It also declared an interim dividend of six cents per share.

The London-listed company said it remained on