Lonmin posts smaller first half loss, keeps sales guidance

LONDON, May 11 (Reuters) - South Africa platinum producer Lonmin (LSE: LMI.L - news) on Monday maintained its platinum sales forecast for the year despite technical issues which hit its smelters earlier this year, as it posted a smaller first-half loss.

London-listed Lonmin, which has also been hit by fallen platinum prices, posted an interim pre-tax loss of $118 million, compared to a $278 million loss a year earlier, when it was battered by South Africa's longest and costliest mining strike. (Reporting by Silvia Antonioli; editing by Jason Neely)