gold fields on wednesday lowered its headline earnings expectations for the first half due to lower gold volumes sold and higher operating costs which was only partially offset by higher gold prices the south african gold miner now expects headline earnings for the six months ended june 30 to be between 49 cents and 53 cents a share 9 to 16 below the 58 cents a share posted for the same period a year prior the group sees attributable gold equivalent production of 577000 ounces for the second quarter flat on the first quarter and 115 million ounces for the first half a 4 onyear decrease costs are expected to be higher due to lower sales mining inflation and higher capital expenditure it said secondquarter allin costs are expected to be 1454 an ounce above the first quarters 1343 an ounce while allin sustaining costs are seen at 1279 an ounce up from 1152 an ounce