SAfrica's Kumba says expects H1 headline EPS to rise

JOHANNESBURG, July 9 (Reuters) - Africa's biggest iron ore producer, Kumba Iron Ore (KIOJ.J: Quote, Profile, Research) expects to report headline earnings per share and EPS of between 840 and 938 cents in the first half of this year versus 502 cents in the year-ago period.

Kumba, majority owned by Anglo American Plc (AAL.L: Quote, Profile, Research), said on Wednesday its headline earnings and basic earnings for the period, after adjustments, were seen coming in between 2.66 billion rand ($344.7 million) and 2.970 billion rand.

Comparable headline earnings and basic earnings reported for last year were 1.578 billion rand and 1.579 billion rand respectively, the firm added.

Kumba will issue its results on July 24. (Reporting by James Macharia)