lihir, page-3

Lihir gold loss worse than tipped



* February 22, 2008 - 10:09AM
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Lihir Gold reported a full-year net loss of $24.1 million, after taking into account the cost of exiting its gold hedges.

Shares dropped as much as 1.3%, or 5 cents, to $3.85 in early trade.

The loss in 2007 compares with a net profit of $53.8 million in 2006.

Analysts had forecast a net loss of between $6 million and $36 million in 2007 after Lihir said its fourth quarter gold production fell by more than a third.

Lihir said its operating profit before tax rose 25% to $195.9 million.

Reuters