(Sharecast News) - Insurance firm Old Mutual said on Thursday that interim earnings were expected to increase no less than 65% year-on-year.

Old Mutual expects basic earnings per share for the six months ended 30 June to rise 65-85% to between ZAR 49.24 (£2.48) and ZAR 55.20 (£2.78), up from ZAR 29.84 (£1.50) in the previous year.

Headline earnings per share were projected to rise 52-72% to between ZAR 48.24 (£2.43) and ZAR 54.55 (£2.75), while headline earnings were forecast to be ZAR 4.82bn (£242.8m) to ZAR 5.46bn (£275.0m), up 53-73% year-on-year.

Old Mutual will report its interim results on 30 August.

As of 0920 BST, Old Mutual shares were up 3.66% at 59.50p.

Reporting by Iain Gilbert at Sharecast.com