Gold Prices Decline Amid Escalating Middle East Conflict
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Mar 03 2026
0mins
Source: Barron's
- Gold Prices Decline: The price of gold decreased early Tuesday.
- Middle East Conflict Impact: This decline occurred despite escalating tensions due to the ongoing war in the Middle East.
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Analyst Views on NEM
Wall Street analysts forecast NEM stock price to fall
14 Analyst Rating
11 Buy
3 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 116.960
Low
89.00
Averages
110.85
High
125.00
Current: 116.960
Low
89.00
Averages
110.85
High
125.00
About NEM
Newmont Corporation is a gold company and a producer of copper, zinc, lead, and silver with operations and/or assets in the Africa, Australia, Latin America & Caribbean, North America, and Papua New Guinea regions. The Company's operations include Brucejack, Red Chris, Penasquito, Merian, Cerro Negro, Yanacocha, Boddington, Tanami, Cadia, Lihir, Ahafo, and NGM. The Brucejack operation includes four mining leases and six core mineral claims which cover 8,169 acres (3,306 hectares) and 337 mineral claims covering 298,795 acres (120,918 hectares). The Red Chris operation includes five mining leases which cover 12,703 acres and 199 mineral claims, encompassing an area of 164,903 acres (66,734 hectares). Penasquito includes 20 mining concessions for operations comprising 113,231 acres (45,823 hectares) and 60 mining concessions for exploration of 107,456 acres (43,486 hectares). The Merian operation includes one right of exploitation encompassing an area of 41,687 acres (16,870 hectares).
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
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- Strong Cash Flow: Newmont Corporation achieved a record free cash flow of $7.3 billion and net income of $7.2 billion in 2025, reflecting its robust profitability amid soaring gold prices, which enhances investor confidence.
- Debt Repayment and Shareholder Returns: The company repaid $3.4 billion in debt and returned an equal amount to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases over the past year, indicating a solid financial position and commitment to rewarding investors.
- Market Volatility Response: Although Newmont anticipates a slowdown in production for 2026 due to geopolitical tensions and falling gold prices, its fortress balance sheet is expected to help the company maintain stability during commodity cycles, attracting long-term investors.
- Investment Opportunity: Newmont's stock has appreciated from a $1,000 investment to nearly $2,650 over the past year, and despite recent price fluctuations, it remains a potential beneficiary of rising gold prices, appealing to investors looking for buying opportunities.
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Newmont Corporation Stock Declines Amid Falling Gold Prices
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- Silver Price Fluctuations: After falling from a recent peak of $96.10 per ounce, silver has rebounded slightly to $84.53 today, yet remains 12% lower than its recent high, suggesting greater potential for recovery compared to gold, which may impact Newmont's profitability.
- Strong Dollar Impact: The U.S. dollar index has risen approximately 1.7% since the conflict began, reducing the amount of dollars needed to purchase gold, which has contributed to the decline in gold prices and subsequently affected Newmont's stock performance.
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- Stock Volatility: Newmont Corporation's stock surged from approximately $42 to $116.38 over the past year, meaning a $1,000 investment a year ago would now be worth nearly $2,650, reflecting strong market performance and investor returns.
- Gold Price Impact: With gold prices hitting an all-time high of $5,608.35 per ounce in January 2026, Newmont's average realized gold price increased by 45%, directly contributing to its record free cash flow of $7.3 billion and net income of $7.2 billion in 2025.
- Financial Health: Newmont successfully repaid $3.4 billion in debt and returned an equal amount to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases, showcasing its strong cash flow and robust financial health, which is rare among commodity companies.
- Future Outlook: Although Newmont anticipates lower production in 2026 and stock price fluctuations due to geopolitical tensions and declining gold prices, its strong balance sheet is expected to help the company navigate commodity cycles, with potential recovery in gold prices offsetting lower sales volumes.
See More
Newmont Gold Stock Presents Investment Opportunities Amid Price Fluctuations
- Strong Cash Flow: Newmont Corporation achieved a record free cash flow of $7.3 billion and net income of $7.2 billion in 2025, reflecting its robust profitability amid soaring gold prices, which enhances investor confidence.
- Debt Repayment and Shareholder Returns: The company repaid $3.4 billion in debt and returned an equal amount to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases over the past year, indicating a solid financial position and commitment to rewarding investors.
- Market Volatility Response: Although Newmont anticipates a slowdown in production for 2026 due to geopolitical tensions and falling gold prices, its fortress balance sheet is expected to help the company maintain stability during commodity cycles, attracting long-term investors.
- Investment Opportunity: Newmont's stock has appreciated from a $1,000 investment to nearly $2,650 over the past year, and despite recent price fluctuations, it remains a potential beneficiary of rising gold prices, appealing to investors looking for buying opportunities.
See More
Analysis of XLB ETF Trading Dynamics
- Price Range Analysis: The XLB ETF has a 52-week low of $36.56 and a high of $54.14, with the last trade at $50.08, indicating stability and potential investment opportunities in the current market environment.
- Technical Analysis Tool: Comparing the current share price to the 200-day moving average provides investors with deeper insights for technical analysis, aiding in more informed trading decisions.
- ETF Unit Trading Mechanism: ETFs trade similarly to stocks, where investors buy and sell 'units' that can be created or destroyed based on demand, impacting liquidity and market performance.
- Inflows and Outflows Monitoring: Weekly monitoring of changes in ETF shares outstanding focuses on those experiencing notable inflows (new units created) or outflows (old units destroyed), assessing their impact on underlying assets and market trends.
See More
Oil Price Surge Drives Significant Stock Movements
- Oil Price Impact: Oil prices surged past $110 per barrel due to the ongoing Iran conflict, leading Chevron to hit an all-time high, while Talos Energy rose by 5%, and ConocoPhillips and Northern Oil gained 2% and 3% respectively, indicating strong performance among oil companies in a high-price environment.
- Hims & Hers Health Surge: The company's stock soared 39% after striking a deal with Novo Nordisk to sell its weight-loss drug, resolving a lawsuit over a copycat version, which is expected to significantly enhance its market share and brand reputation.
- Live Nation Settlement Near: Live Nation's shares rose 6% as it nears a settlement with the Department of Justice regarding monopoly allegations in the live concert industry, which, if successful, will stabilize and expand its future business operations.
- United Therapeutics Buyback Plan: The pharmaceutical company's shares increased by over 8% after its board authorized a $2 billion stock repurchase plan, with $1.5 billion allocated for accelerated buybacks, which is expected to boost investor confidence and enhance shareholder value.
See More
Newmont Mining Shares Surge 15.7% Amid Strong Earnings and Gold Price Rally
- Stock Surge: Newmont Mining shares rallied 15.7% in February, primarily driven by rising gold prices and fourth-quarter earnings that exceeded expectations, indicating strong performance in the gold market.
- Earnings Beat: Newmont reported fourth-quarter revenue of $6.81 billion, a 20.5% increase year-over-year, surpassing market expectations by $560 million, with adjusted EPS at $2.52, up 80%, reflecting higher-than-expected production at its Cadia and Yanachocha mines.
- Joint Venture Dynamics: Newmont's partnership with Barrick Mining is under scrutiny as Barrick plans to spin off its North American mining assets into an IPO, with Newmont seeking to ensure its interests in the Nevada Gold Mine are protected, highlighting its focus on future asset value.
- Future Outlook: Despite a forecasted decline in production for 2026, Newmont anticipates earnings growth due to rising gold prices, with shares trading at just 12.7 times projected 2026 earnings, indicating attractiveness in a high gold price environment.
See More
Newmont Corporation Stock Declines Amid Falling Gold Prices
- Gold Price Decline: Amid ongoing Middle Eastern conflict, gold prices have dropped from last week's high of $5,416 per ounce to $5,095, causing Newmont's stock to decline by 3.3%, indicating a weakening demand for gold as a safe haven asset.
- Silver Price Fluctuations: After falling from a recent peak of $96.10 per ounce, silver has rebounded slightly to $84.53 today, yet remains 12% lower than its recent high, suggesting greater potential for recovery compared to gold, which may impact Newmont's profitability.
- Strong Dollar Impact: The U.S. dollar index has risen approximately 1.7% since the conflict began, reducing the amount of dollars needed to purchase gold, which has contributed to the decline in gold prices and subsequently affected Newmont's stock performance.
- Interest Rate Effects: Rising interest rates may lead investors to prefer bonds over non-yielding gold, resulting in decreased demand for gold and negatively impacting Newmont's stock, reflecting a cautious market sentiment towards metal investments.
See More
Analysis of Newmont Corporation Stock Performance
- Stock Volatility: Newmont Corporation's stock surged from approximately $42 to $116.38 over the past year, meaning a $1,000 investment a year ago would now be worth nearly $2,650, reflecting strong market performance and investor returns.
- Gold Price Impact: With gold prices hitting an all-time high of $5,608.35 per ounce in January 2026, Newmont's average realized gold price increased by 45%, directly contributing to its record free cash flow of $7.3 billion and net income of $7.2 billion in 2025.
- Financial Health: Newmont successfully repaid $3.4 billion in debt and returned an equal amount to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases, showcasing its strong cash flow and robust financial health, which is rare among commodity companies.
- Future Outlook: Although Newmont anticipates lower production in 2026 and stock price fluctuations due to geopolitical tensions and declining gold prices, its strong balance sheet is expected to help the company navigate commodity cycles, with potential recovery in gold prices offsetting lower sales volumes.
See More
