The gold market is being tested like never before

Faced with declining domestic production, China's top copper company — Minmetals — said earlier this year that the "only solution” was going overseas, and many are following its steps.

The world’s third-biggest gold miner said its net earnings will also benefit from weaker operating currencies in South Africa, Brazil, Australia and Argentina.

Shares plunged after miner revealed that output fell almost across the board in the April – June period.

Speaking at a regular briefing, Bristow said that, as anticipated, the complexity of dealing with multiple ore types from different sources had affected throughput, recovery and grade in the first half of the year.

Recovering commodity prices and investors' veto on deals have frustrated Davis and his team in their search for mining and metals bargains.

According to a UN report, since 2000 two-thirds of South Africa's gold exports – mostly to India – did not appear on its trade partners' books.

The class action the firms want to appeal to, paves the way for thousands of current and former miners suffering from silicosis and tuberculosis to seek damage compensation from the companies.

South Africa's mining sector is facing the most serious challenge for many years demonstrated by mounting job losses.

Study shows there are more bullion miners among higher market capital ranking of mining companies in second quarter of 2016 than a year a go.