Johannesburg

AFRICA'S top bullion producer AngloGold Ashanti posted lower annual earnings on Tuesday, hit by restructuring costs and US$46 million in provisions for an expected settlement in a class-action suit related to a fatal lung disease.

"Adjusted headline earnings for 2017 include the impact of retrenchment provisions in the South Africa region of US$71 million (post-tax) and the provision for the settlement of the silicosis class action claims and related expenditure of US$46 million (post-tax)," the company said.