NEM

In recent days, Newmont reported strong first-quarter results, expanded its share repurchase authorization by US$6.00 billion, and advanced talks with Barrick about adding the Fourmile discovery to their existing Nevada Gold Mines joint venture, even as investors reacted to macroeconomic pressures on gold and higher expected operating costs. The tension between robust current performance and earnings expectations on one hand, and concerns over rising costs, lower future output, and gold price sensitivity on the other, is now central to how investors interpret Newmont’s long-term story. We’ll now examine how concerns about higher 2026 operating costs and capital needs could influence Newmont’s previously balanced investment narrative. Outshine the giants: these 14 early-stage AI stocks could fund your retirement. To own Newmont, you generally need to believe in the long term value of large scale gold and copper production, supported by disciplined capital returns. Today, the key near term catalyst is how quickly the market looks past gold price weakness to focus on earnings power, while the biggest risk is the pressure from higher 2026 operating costs and capital spending. Recent news on stronger Q1 results and Fourmile talks does not materially change that balance yet. The most relevant recent announcement here is Newmont’s US$6.00 billion expansion of its share repurchase authorization, coming alongside solid first quarter earnings. For many shareholders, this deepens the focus on capital returns as a near term support, but it also sharpens the question of how sustainable buybacks and dividends will be if 2026 cost inflation, lower planned output, and weaker gold prices persist. Yet against robust buybacks and earnings, investors should also be aware of rising 2026 cost pressures and... Read the full narrative on Newmont (it's free!) Newmont's narrative projects $21.6 billion revenue and $6.4 billion earnings by 2028. This requires 1.6% yearly revenue growth and about a $0.2 billion earnings increase from $6.2 billion today. Uncover how Newmont's forecasts yield a $110.64 fair value, a 5% upside to its current price. Compared with the consensus view, the most optimistic analysts saw Newmont reaching about US$26.0 billion of revenue and US$8.0 billion of earnings by 2028, which paints a far more upbeat picture than the cost and output concerns raised by the...

Shares of Wheaton Precious Metals Corp. WPM gained 7% since it delivered adjusted earnings of $1.28 per share on Thursday, marking a year-over-year upsurge of 132.2%. The bottom line also surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.15 by 11.3% Revenues were a record $901 million, up 91.6% from the year-ago quarter and beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $767 million. Gold-equivalent production rose 21.5% to 211,951 ounces, reflecting stronger output from key partner assets. Our projection was 201,377 ounces. Wheaton Precious Metals Corp. price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | Wheaton Precious Metals Corp. Quote Wheaton Precious Metals’s quarterly revenues reflected a sharp rise in realized pricing across its metal mix. The record revenues were driven primarily by a 98% jump in the average realized gold-equivalent price, partly offset by 3% lower gold-equivalent ounces sold. Sales were diversified, with gold accounting for 51% of revenues and silver 47%, while palladium and cobalt each contributed 1%. Operating performance was supported by higher attributable output, led by stronger contributions from Peñasquito, Antamina and Blackwater, along with the recommencement of production at Aljustrel. The company also cited Salobo’s outperformance in its opening-quarter commentary. Despite the production gain, gold-equivalent ounces sold declined year over year to 181,743. We predicted gold-equivalent ounces sold to be 156,429 for the quarter. Produced but not yet delivered inventory climbed to about 183,500 GEOs as of March 31, representing 2.8 months of payable production and sitting at the mid-point of the company’s guided range. Average cash costs increased to $681 per GEO from $392 a year ago, reflecting higher production payments under Wheaton Precious Metals’ streaming agreements as prices rose. Even with the higher cash costs, the cash operating margin expanded to $4,279 per GEO sold, soaring 103% year over year on the strength of realized prices. The quarter’s gross profit was $699.4 million, more than doubling from the prior-year level. Cash generated from operating activities was a record $766 million in the quarter, with WPM attributing the year-over-year increase primarily to a higher gross margin. The strong cash generation supported a sharply higher cash balance, with cash and cash equivalents at $2.2 billion at the quarter end compared with $1.15...

AngloGold Ashanti plc AU delivered earnings of $2.52 per share for the first quarter of 2026, skyrocketing 186% from the year-ago period and beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.21 by 14%. Quarterly revenues came in at $3.15 billion, surging 63.7% year over year but missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3.34 billion by 5.5%. AngloGold Ashanti PLC price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | AngloGold Ashanti PLC Quote AU’s gold production was 724,000 ounces in the first quarter, marking a year-over-year increase of 1%. The upside was driven by 10% year-over-year growth in Geita mine’s gold production. Strong performances at Cuiabá, Obuasi, Iduapriem, Cerro Vanguardia and Tropicana also aided the upside. However, Sunrise Dam’s production declined year over year due to equipment issues and lower grades, while Kibali’s attributable production fell as mined grades and equipment availability weighed on output. Total cash costs for the group increased to $1,391 per ounce in the quarter, up 14% year over year, driven largely by higher gold price-linked royalties, inflationary pressures in labor and contractor costs and foreign exchange movements. All-in sustaining costs rose 19% to $1,955 per ounce, reflecting higher sustaining capital and the same macro-driven cost headwinds. AngloGold Ashanti posted a record free cash flow of $1.169 billion in the quarter, supported by stronger operating cash generation and an elevated realized gold-price environment. Net cash flow from operating activities rose to $1.709 billion, up 13% year over year, reflecting the stronger revenue base and contributions from joint ventures. The company’s average gold prices received rose to $4,863 per ounce from $2,874 per ounce in the prior-year quarter. This translated into materially stronger profitability and cash conversion despite higher operating costs. EBITDA increased 130% year over year to $2.291 billion, highlighting the leverage to gold pricing in the quarter’s financial profile. AU declared an interim dividend of 116 cents per share for the quarter, equating to $585 million in shareholder distributions. The payout reflected the company’s capital return framework, which links the total dividend to a targeted payout of free cash flow while maintaining a conservative leverage profile. The company also announced a proposed share repurchase program of up to $2 billion, subject to sha...

The S&P 500 Index ($SPX) (SPY) on Monday closed up +0.19%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average ($DOWI) (DIA) closed up +0.19%, and the Nasdaq 100 Index ($IUXX) (QQQ) closed up +0.29%. June E-mini S&P futures (ESM26) rose +0.18%, and June E-mini Nasdaq futures (NQM26) rose +0.28%. Stock indexes settled higher on Monday, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 10 posting new all-time highs amid strong corporate earnings results and resurgent optimism around artificial intelligence. Strength in chipmakers and AI-infrastructure stocks led the broader market higher on Monday. Gains in stocks were limited on Monday amid rising oil prices and bond yields after the US and Iran failed to reach terms to end the war in the Middle East. Global bond yields rose on concern that the continued standoff will keep energy prices elevated and could force the world’s central banks to tighten monetary policy. The 10-year T-note yield rose +5 bp to 4.41%. Dear D-Wave Quantum Stock Fans, Mark Your Calendars for May 12 Berkshire Hathaway Just Upped Its Stake in Sumitomo Stock. Greg Abel Says It’s Holding for the Long Term. This Analyst Just Raised the Price Target on Coherent Stock by 50%. What to Know. Our exclusive Barchart Brief newsletter is your FREE midday guide to what's moving stocks, sectors, and investor sentiment - delivered right when you need the info most. Subscribe today! In the latest developments in the Middle East, President Trump and Iran rejected each other's latest peace proposals to end the 10-week conflict. Iran offered to transfer some of its stockpile of highly enriched uranium to a third country, but rejected the idea of dismantling its nuclear facilities. Iran also demanded a lifting of the US naval blockade and sanctions relief, while maintaining a degree of control over traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. Despite the ceasefire in place since last month, a drone strike over the weekend set a cargo vessel ablaze off Qatar in the Persian Gulf. Also, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait both said they intercepted hostile drones. Monday’s US economic news was slightly weaker than expected after Apr existing home sales rose +0.2% m/m to 4.02 million, below expectations of 4.05 million. Chinese trade news was better than expected, a positive factor for global growth. China Apr exports rose +14.1% y/y, stronger than expectations of +8.4% y/y. Apr imports rose +25.3% y/y, stro...

B2Gold Corp. BTG posted adjusted earnings of 19 cents per share for the first quarter of 2026, topping the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 11 cents by 72.7%. The adjusted bottom line more than doubled from earnings of 9 cents in the year-ago quarter. Revenues climbed 117.7% year over year to $1.16 billion, supported by higher realized pricing and strong sales volumes. Total gold production of 237,763 ounces surpassed expectations, with all operating mines outperforming forecasts. B2Gold Corp price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | B2Gold Corp Quote B2Gold produced 237,763 ounces of gold in the March-end quarter, up from 192,752 ounces a year ago. The company attributed the outperformance to stronger-than-planned operating results across its portfolio. By operation, Fekola led production at 117,450 ounces on higher throughput and solid recoveries. Fekola produced 93,805 ounces in the prior-year quarter. Masbate produced 52,908 ounces on favorable grade variance, up from the prior-year quarter’s 46,369 ounces. Otjikoto delivered 24,529 ounces, helped by better-than-planned grades. However, the performance marked a dip from 52,578 ounces produced in the first quarter of 2025 due to slightly lower than planned throughput. The Goose Mine generated 42,876 ounces on higher grades and recoveries despite lower throughput. For the January-March quarter, the total cost of sales was $549 million, surging 86.5% year over year. The gross profit skyrocketed 156.5% year over year to $610 million. The gross margin increased to 52.6% in the reported quarter from the prior-year quarter’s 44.7%. The company sold 276,346 ounces of gold during the quarter versus 183,998 ounces a year ago, benefiting from both higher production and shipment timing. Realized pricing was also a meaningful tailwind. The average realized gold price rose to $4,193 per ounce from $2,892 per ounce in the year-ago quarter, amplifying the impacts of higher sales volumes on the top line. B2Gold’s consolidated cash operating costs were $1,005 per ounce produced in the quarter, while cash operating costs on a sales basis were $846 per ounce sold. Costs were better than expected, driven largely by higher production and lower-than-anticipated production costs. All-in sustaining costs were $1,964 per ounce sold compared with $1,533 per ounce in the prior-year quarter. At the mine level, B2Gold cited lower operating cos...

The S&P 500 Index ($SPX) (SPY) today is up +0.17%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average ($DOWI) (DIA) is up +0.10%, and the Nasdaq 100 Index ($IUXX) (QQQ) is up +0.06%. June E-mini S&P futures (ESM26) are up +0.19%, and June E-mini Nasdaq futures (NQM26) are up +0.05%. Stock indexes are moving higher today, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 10 posting new all-time highs amid strong corporate earnings results and resurgent optimism around artificial intelligence. Gains in stocks are limited today amid rising oil prices and bond yields after the US and Iran failed to reach terms to end the war in the Middle East. Global bond yields rose on concern that the continued standoff will keep energy prices elevated and could force the world’s central banks to tighten monetary policy. The 10-year T-note yield is up +3 bp to 4.39%. Broadcom Hits a Bottleneck as OpenAI Revenue Concerns Claim Their First Casualty Palantir Stock Has a ‘High-Class Problem’: Demand for Its Software Is Far Outpacing Supply Dan Ives Can’t Make It Any Clearer: Palantir Stock Is Still a ‘Golden Goose’ Despite Q1 Earnings Fears Markets move fast. Keep up by reading our FREE midday Barchart Brief newsletter for exclusive charts, analysis, and headlines. In the latest developments in the Middle East, President Trump and Iran rejected each other's latest peace proposals to end the 10-week conflict. Iran offered to transfer some of its stockpile of highly enriched uranium to a third country but rejected the idea of dismantling its nuclear facilities. Iran also demanded a lifting of the US naval blockade and sanctions relief, while maintaining a degree of control over traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. Despite the ceasefire in place since last month, a drone strike over the weekend set a cargo vessel ablaze off Qatar in the Persian Gulf. Also, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait both said they intercepted hostile drones. Chinese trade news was better than expected, a positive factor for global growth. China Apr exports rose +14.1% y/y, stronger than expectations of +8.4% y/y. Apr imports rose +25.3% y/y, stronger than expectations of 20.0% y/y. WTI crude oil prices (CLM26) are up by more than 2% today, as optimism that the US and Iran would reopen the Strait of Hormuz was dashed after President Trump said Iran's latest peace proposals were "totally unacceptable." The strait remains essentially closed, as abo...

The S&P 500 Index ($SPX) (SPY) today is up +0.25%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average ($DOWI) (DIA) is up +0.05%, and the Nasdaq 100 Index ($IUXX) (QQQ) is up +0.17%. June E-mini S&P futures (ESM26) are up +0.29%, and June E-mini Nasdaq futures (NQM26) are up +0.19%. Stock indexes are moving higher today, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 posting new all-time highs amid strong corporate earnings results and resurgent optimism around artificial intelligence. Gains in stocks are limited today amid rising oil prices and bond yields after the US and Iran failed to reach terms to end the war in the Middle East. Global bond yields rose on concern that the continued standoff will keep energy prices elevated and could force the world’s central banks to tighten monetary policy. The 10-year T-note yield is up +3 bp to 4.39%. Broadcom Hits a Bottleneck as OpenAI Revenue Concerns Claim Their First Casualty Dan Ives Can’t Make It Any Clearer: Palantir Stock Is Still a ‘Golden Goose’ Despite Q1 Earnings Fears Palantir Stock Has a ‘High-Class Problem’: Demand for Its Software Is Far Outpacing Supply Get exclusive insights with the FREE Barchart Brief newsletter. Subscribe now for quick, incisive midday market analysis you won't find anywhere else. In the latest developments in the Middle East, President Trump and Iran rejected each other's latest peace proposals to end the 10-week conflict. Iran offered to transfer some of its stockpile of highly enriched uranium to a third country, but rejected the idea of dismantling its nuclear facilities. Iran also demanded a lifting of the US naval blockade and sanctions relief, while maintaining a degree of control over traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. Despite the ceasefire in place since last month, a drone strike over the weekend set a cargo vessel ablaze off Qatar in the Persian Gulf. Also, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait both said they intercepted hostile drones. Today’s US economic news was slightly weaker than expected after Apr existing home sales rose +0.2% m/m to 4.02 million, below expectations of 4.05 million. Chinese trade news was better than expected, a positive factor for global growth. China Apr exports rose +14.1% y/y, stronger than expectations of +8.4% y/y. Apr imports rose +25.3% y/y, stronger than expectations of 20.0% y/y. WTI crude oil prices (CLM26) are up by more than 2% today, as optimism that the US an...

The S&P 500 Index ($SPX) (SPY) on Friday closed up +0.84%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average ($DOWI) (DIA) closed up +0.02%, and the Nasdaq 100 Index ($IUXX) (QQQ) closed up +2.35%. June E-mini S&P futures (ESM26) rose +0.79%, and June E-mini Nasdaq futures (NQM26) rose +2.37%. Stock indexes settled higher on Friday, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 posting new record highs. Chipmaker and AI-infrastructure stocks led the overall market higher on Friday, offsetting concerns about the Iran war. Stronger-than-expected corporate earnings are pushing stocks higher. Weakness in software stocks on Friday weighed on the Dow Jones Industrial Average. As CPUs Steal the Show, AMD Stock Just Got a New Street-High Price Target How Intel Stock Could Be the Biggest Winner from AMD’s Explosive Earnings Win Cathie Wood Dumps More AMD Shares Despite Its Massive 108% Rally. Here's Why. Markets move fast. Keep up by reading our FREE midday Barchart Brief newsletter for exclusive charts, analysis, and headlines. Stock indexes also found support today on signs of resiliency in the US labor market after April nonfarm payrolls rose more than expected and March nonfarm payrolls were revised upward. Stocks rallied on Friday despite a larger-than-expected decline in US consumer sentiment to a record low. US Apr nonfarm payrolls rose by +115,000, stronger than expectations of +65,000, and Mar nonfarm payrolls were revised upward to +185,000 from the previously reported +178,000. The Apr unemployment rate was unchanged at 4.3%, right on expectations. US Apr average hourly earnings rose +0.2% m/m and +3.6% y/y, weaker than expectations of +0.3% m/m and +3.8% y/y. The University of Michigan’s US May consumer sentiment index fell -1.6 to a record low of 48.2 (data from 1978), weaker than expectations of 49.5. The University of Michigan US May 1-year inflation expectations rate unexpectedly eased to +4.5% from +4.7% in Apr, weaker than expectations of an increase to 4.8%. The May 5-10 year inflation expectations rate unexpectedly eased to +3.4%, weaker than expectations of no change at +3.5%. In the latest developments in the Middle East, Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency said Iran seized an oil tanker on Friday in the Strait of Hormuz for "attempting to disrupt oil exports and the interests of the Iranian nation." Also, US forces targeted missile and drone launch sites and other milita...

There is one metal quietly sitting at the center of the modern economy. It runs through electric vehicles, powers AI data centers, and connects massive renewable energy projects around the world. That metal is copper, and few companies produce more of it than Freeport-McMoRan (NYSE: FCX). For years, Freeport-McMoRan was seen as a traditional mining company whose fortunes rose and fell with the global economy. But the story around the company has changed dramatically. Today, Freeport is tied directly to some of the biggest long-term trends in the world: electrification, artificial intelligence infrastructure, and the clean energy transition. Strong Numbers, Even With the Challenges Freeport’s first-quarter 2026 results showed a company still generating serious cash despite operational setbacks. The miner reported net income of $881 million, or $0.61 per share, while adjusted earnings came in at $0.57 per share. Revenue climbed to $6.23 billion, up from $5.73 billion a year earlier. If copper prices stay near $6 per pound, management expects operating cash flow to reach roughly $8.7 billion for the full year. Those are huge numbers, especially for a business that spent much of the past year dealing with major disruptions. See how FCX's key metrics compare with peers such as Southern Copper, Newmont, Agnico Eagle Mines, and Teck Resources. Grasberg Became A Major Headache The biggest challenge came from Indonesia. In September 2025, Freeport’s massive Grasberg mining district suffered a serious mud rush incident that temporarily disrupted operations. Grasberg is one of the company’s most important assets, so the impact was immediate. Copper sales from Indonesia dropped sharply in Q1 2026, falling to just 82 million pounds compared to 290 million pounds during the same quarter last year. On top of that, Freeport took on more than $400 million in restoration costs and expenses tied to idle facilities. Management has moved quickly to stabilize the situation. The company secured a key agreement with the Indonesian government that extends operating rights for the life of the resource, which removes a major long-term uncertainty. Still, recovery will take time. Freeport recently raised its 2026 net unit cost guidance to $1.95 per pound from $1.75, mainly because Grasberg is not yet back to full production levels. See also, What GameStop’s $55B Bid For eBay Means For...

The 2026 Q1 earnings season continues to be one of positivity, with many notable companies – Newmont NEM, Interactive Brokers IBKR, and Quanta Services PWR – all knocking it out of the park, reporting quarterly records in one way or another. Quanta Services Quanta Services yet again delivered another set of robust quarterly results, with both EPS and sales results beating Zacks Consensus Estimates. Adjusted EPS of $2.68 grew by a sizable 50% YoY and reflected a 31.4% surprise, whereas sales of $7.9 billion saw a double-digit 26.3% YoY climb. Importantly, the backlog reached a record $48.5 billion, helping underpin its broader business momentum for a long time to come. Quanta Services raised guidance across many metrics, driven by a favorable demand environment, further adding to the positivity. The broad guidance hike is very bullish from a share momentum standpoint, a big driver behind the stock’s surge after it reported. Newmont Newmont has benefited significantly from the rise in gold prices. The average gold price per oz reached $4,900 during the reported period, well above the $2,944 level in the same period last year. Free cash flow of $3.1 billion throughout the period reflected an all-time record. Newmont’s cash-generating abilities have been a notable boost over recent periods thanks to the favorable backdrop. The amplified cash-generating abilities bring about many positives, such as buybacks, with NEM increasing its current share repurchase program following the favorable results. Interactive Brokers IBKR has been a strong earnings performer over the past several years, with shares benefiting as a result. Commission revenue throughout its reported period increased 19% YoY to a record $613 million, with customer trading volume in stocks, futures, and options increasing by 25%, 20%, and 16%, respectively. The company’s offerings continue to attract a wide range of new customers, with customer accounts growing by a rock-solid 31% YoY to roughly 4.8 million. The stock saw a weak reaction to the results but quickly bounced back over recent days. The EPS outlook for its current fiscal year remains notably bullish, with the current $2.46 per share estimate up more than 30% over the last year. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Quanta Ser...

Barrick Mining Corporation B is slated to come up with first-quarter 2026 results before the opening bell on May 11. Higher realized gold prices are expected to have aided its performance amid cost and production headwinds. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for first-quarter earnings has been going down in the past 60 days. The consensus estimate for earnings is pegged at 74 cents per share, suggesting a rise of 111.4% year over year. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research B beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings in three of the last four quarters and reported in-line results on the other occasion. In this timeframe, it delivered an earnings surprise of roughly 11.2%, on average. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research Our proven model predicts an earnings beat for Barrick this time around. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the chances of an earnings beat. That is just the case here. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter. B has an Earnings ESP of +0.56% and a Zacks Rank #3. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. Higher gold prices are likely to have supported the company’s performance in the first quarter. Gold entered 2026 with strong momentum after surging 65% in 2025. Heightened U.S.-Iran tensions, a weaker U.S. dollar and concerns surrounding the Federal Reserve’s independence propelled bullion to record levels, with prices nearing $5,600 per ounce in late January. However, heavy profit-taking and a recovery in the dollar sparked a brief correction, dragging gold below $4,900 per ounce. The yellow metal regained traction in early March, climbing above $5,400 per ounce on March 2 as safe-haven demand strengthened after coordinated U.S.-Israel strikes on Iran. But a stronger dollar, inflation concerns stemming from higher oil prices and the Fed’s hawkish stance pressured gold later in March, sending prices down to around $4,400 per ounce on March 26. Gold subsequently rebounded to close the month above $4,600 per ounce, though it still ended the month 12% lower. Despite the sharp decline in March, gold prices finished the first quarter up roughly 7%. Weaker production is expected to have impacted B’s sales volumes in the first quarter. Barrick saw a 19% year-over-year decline in fourth-quart...

AngloGold Ashanti PLC AU is slated to report first-quarter 2026 results on May 8, before market open. AU is expected to have seen a year-over-year improvement in earnings in the quarter, aided by upbeat gold prices and higher production numbers. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for AU’s first-quarter 2025 earnings has moved 0.9% north over the past 60 days at $2.21 per share. The consensus mark indicates a 151% upsurge from the year-ago actual. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research The Zacks Consensus Estimate for AngloGold Ashanti’s first-quarter total sales is pegged at $3.34 billion, indicating a 73.2% increase from the year-ago quarter’s actual. The company has a trailing four-quarter negative earnings surprise of 2.02%, on average. Our proven model does not conclusively predict an earnings beat for AngloGold Ashanti this time around. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the odds of an earnings beat, but that is not the case here. Earnings ESP: AU has an Earnings ESP of 0.00%. You can uncover the best stocks before they are reported with our Earnings ESP Filter. Zacks Rank: The company currently has a Zacks Rank of 3. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. AU is likely to have delivered a strong performance in the first quarter of 2026, building on the robust momentum seen in 2025. AngloGold Ashanti reported a 7% year-over-year increase in gold production to 799,000 ounces in the fourth quarter of 2025, driven by strong contributions from the Sukari mine. The upside was also fueled by solid performances from key assets like Obuasi, Siguiri and Cuiabá. Obuasi delivered a strong year-over-year increase of 20%, driven by grade improvement and steady production ramp-up. Siguiri saw a 15% rise in production on recovered grades. This momentum is expected to have continued in the first quarter and led to year-over-year higher production numbers. However, AU has been facing headwinds from higher operating costs for the last few quarters. The upside was due to inflationary cost pressures from increased labor and mining contractor costs. Nonetheless, the impacts of these elevated costs on its earnings were offset by higher sales volumes and prices. In the January-March period, gold prices remained elevated, supported by uncertainty regarding U.S trade and tariff polici...