The group told shareholders this morning that its consolidated headline earnings per share for the six months to 30 September "are expected to be materially higher than those for the corresponding period in the prior year".
The group did not disclose any further information.
Analysts have until now been forecasting full-year headline earnings of about 100c a share, up from 71.3c for the year to March 2002. The group reported interim headline earnings of 32.6c a share at last year`s interim stage.
"The market shouldn`t misread it," Reuters quotes Salomon Smith Barney analyst Rhys Summerton as saying.
"Basically they are saying we`ve returned to growth. I`ll be very surprised if they report a 50% rise, for example."
He expected revenue to rise 44% to R7.4 billion in the first half, thanks to MTN`s Nigerian operations.
By late morning the share was trading at R12.65, up 60c or almost 5% on yesterday`s close.
MTN is expected to announce its interim results after the close of business on 26 November.
Share
