S.Africa's Gold Fields Q4 earnings slightly higher

JOHANNESBURG, Feb 13 (Reuters) - South African bullion producer Gold Fields posted a slight rise in fourth quarter earnings on Thursday as production rose 21 percent, mostly because of a significant improvement in its Damang mine in Ghana.

Normalised earnings for the quarter to end-December totalled 19 cents per share from 17 cents in the previous three months.

On year-on-year basis earnings were down 85 percent, a reflection of the falling gold price.

Normalised earnings are based on new standards by the World Gold Council which look at all costs and most capital expenditures.

(Reporting by Ed Stoddard; editing by David Dolan)

((Edward.Stoddard@thomsonreuters.com)(+27 11 775 3160)(Reuters Messaging: edward.stoddard.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))

Keywords: GOLDFIELDS/