JSE-listed mining holding company Assore expects its attributable earnings for the year to June 30 to decline to between R1.23-billion and R1.5-billion, from R4.01-billion in the prior financial year. Headline earnings were expected to fall to between R1.7-billion and R2.08-billion, from R4.23-billion in the 2014 financial year. Earnings a share for the year to June 30 would be between R11.89 and R14.53, compared with R38.81 in the prior financial year, while headline earnings a share would drop to between R16.47 and R20.13, compared with R40.98 the year before. Assore attributed the lower earnings to significant declines in the dollar selling prices of its iron and manganese products. The average dollar prices for 62% iron content fines grade ore delivered in China over the year-to-date had averaged about $72/t, compared with $123/t in the previous year. The impact of these lower prices on earnings had, however, been partially offset by a weaker rand:dollar exchange rate, which predominated over the current year.  Meanwhile, the group also expected to record impairment charges, after taxation, of R411-million against certain of its jointly controlled and owned smelting and mining operations and R109-million against available-for-sale financial assets.  Assore’s results would be published on August 27.