Platinum number one Angloplat is in line for comparatively strong results when it reports its full year performance according to the latest analysis.

A poll of industry experts by I-Net Bridge anticipated an increase in headline earnings of around 37 per cent, as the platinum giant recovers from a difficult 2003.

The figures for the 2004 financial year, which are out on February 14th, are expected to benefit from a higher basket metal price and a small rise in production.

Investec analyst Leon Esterhuizen was one of those analysts predicting an upturn in fortunes for Angloplat, as he told I-Net Bridge.

"Angloplat is likely to produce headline earnings per share of between 12 rand and 13 rand. The group's earnings are expected to have recovered from the 2003 financial year, which was a disaster," he said.

However, he also noted that the predictions reflected some of the difficulties that Angloplat has experienced in 2004.

"The current earnings expectation is substantially lower than the 15 rand to 20 rand expected at the beginning of Angloplat's 2004 financial year. This shows that Angloplat's troubles aren't yet over."

Angloplat scaled back its 2006 financial year production target last month from 3.4 million oz to 2.9 million oz as a consequence of the strength of the rand and unexpected problems with operations.