South Africa's Exxaro interim earnings rise on higher sales

(Reuters) - South African diversified miner Exxaro Resources posts a slight increase in earnings, with higher sales offsetting production losses from mine closures, the company said on Thursday. * Diluted headline earnings per share for continuingoperations for the six months ended June 30 rose 1.5 percent to341 cents from 336 cents in the same period last year, in linewith what company previously flagged. * Profit boosted by inclusion of Exxaro Coal CentralProprietary Limited increased sales vo