Randgold boosted divvy to $2 a share, after a year of record production and soaring profits, but warned the good times may be over soon as it’s now facing demanding new regulations in Congo, one of its key jurisdictions.
The mining sector in the world's top platinum producer has in recent years been laid low by soaring wage and power costs, depressed prices, violent social and labour unrest as well as policy uncertainties.
Jewellers in India had delayed purchases earlier this week and offered gold at a discount anticipating a reduction in the tax in the country's annual budget on Thursday.
Bankers, brokers, refiners and researchers in the London Bullion Market Association's 2018 survey sees gold as high as $1,510 and as low as $1,120 an ounce.