NSX - FSR - FirstRand - Trading Statement

NSX - FSR - FirstRand - Trading Statement
FirstRand Limited
(Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa)
(Registration number: 1966/010753/06)
ISIN: ZAE000066304
Share Code (JSE): FSR
Share Code (NSX): FST
("FirstRand" or "the Company" or "the Group")
TRADING STATEMENT

FirstRand shareholders are advised that the Group~s earnings for the six
month period ended 31 December 2006 are expected to exceed the previous
comparative period as follows:

-    basic and diluted earnings per share by between 28% and 34%;

-    basic and diluted headline earnings per share by between 22% and 28%;
and

-    basic and diluted normalised earnings per share by between 22% and
28%.

As stated in the announcement of its results for the year ended 30 June
2006 the Group believes that normalised earnings better reflect operational
performance.  Headline earnings are accordingly adjusted to take into
account non-operational and accounting anomalies.  The adjustments relate
to private equity realisations, BEE costs, treasury shares, share based
payments and non-recurring items.

The financial information on which this trading statement is based has not
been reviewed and reported on by the Company~s auditors.

The full details of the financial results will be released on SENS on 27
February 2007 and published in the press on 28 February 2007.
21 February 2007
Sandton
Sponsor

RAND MERCHANT BANK (A division of FirstRand Bank Limited)

Date: 21/02/2007 15:10:00 Supplied by www.sharenet.co.za                     
Produced by the JSE SENS Department.