• ANZ analysts believe ’emerging’ central banks could buy over 600t of gold annually until 2030 
  • Citi isn’t totally ruling out a US$3,000 gold price in next 12-18 months
  • US gold mining giant Newmont divests six gold mines and two other gold projects

 

As we round out another week of up and down prices, blurting out things in our sleep like “FOMC MINUTES!” and EBITDA!”, and wondering whether to put down that underperforming lithium stock rabidly foaming in the barn so we can buy bulk crypto sh*tcoins instead… we turn to the price of ye Old Yeller.

Good ol’ faithful gold, that is.

(By the way, does 1957 film Old Yeller make you gently weep just even thinking about it and reading its premise on Wikipedia? No… er, no, me neither…)

Slightly hawkish “FOMC MINUTES!” now actually released into the wild, what’s doin’ for the price of the precious yellow one after the Fed expressed it wants to see a tad more progress on inflation taming before the interest-rate cutting predicted in H2?

At the time of key tapping and thinking about a golden ale, it’s changing hands for roughly US$2,029, and $3,088 in Aussie dollars.

Gold and other precious metals initially traded a bit weaker on the Fedspeak this week, but have since consolidated to a comfortable cruise-control, sideways-ranging position once again.

There’s not much else to say about that, so quick, let’s find us some analysis from some soothsaying banker types…

 

ANZ forsees more central bank buying

According to notes from strategists at major Aussie bank ANZ doing the rounds this week, central bank buying has been the most influential factor shaping the gold market over the past couple of years, and that narrative is only set to continue for the foreseeable.

Well, at least the next six years, anyway.

As noted by the World Gold Council, Kitco and anyone else keeping a close eye on this recently, central bank global reserves have risen by more than 1,000 tonnes in both 2022 and 2023, with China in particular, diving in head first.

Adding to that, ANZ’s commodity stategists noted that over that time central bank gold purchasing, positioned as a share in global demand, has tripled – representing between 25% in 2022 and 30% in 2023.

“EM [emerging market] central banks could purchase over 600 tonnes of gold annually until 2030, to take its share in their foreign reserves to 10%. China will likely occupy the lion’s share in global official gold demand,” the ANZ analysts said.

Factors for buying? Ah you know already.

Rising geopolitical uncertainty chestnut? Check. Growing economic risks and continued inflation pressures? Double check.

But ANZ’s experts also highlighted that governments and their central banks may also just be attempting to diversify their bond holdings.

“Global central banks are diversifying foreign reserves and accumulating gold to hedge against geopolitical risks and economic uncertainties,” said the bank bods, adding:

“Depleted trust in the US fixed income assets and the rise of non-reserve currencies are other themes that could support central bank gold buying.”

 

And in other gold-related news

• As Kitco reports, Another major bank, Citi, thinks a US$3,000 gold price is not completely out of the question in the next 12 to 18 months. No, it’s not its base case, which is far more modest, around $2,150, but if absolutely everything lines up, including high central bank demand, “rapid de-dollerization” and the now more unlikely deep global recession, then… well, gold bugs might just be frothing at the mouth with excitement.

• American gold mining giant Newmont has announced it plans to divest six gold mines and two gold projects. And two are in Western Australia.

On that list are the Canadian mines  Éléonore, Musselwhite and Porcupine; Cripple Creek and Victor mine in the US, the Akyem mine in Ghana and the Telfer mine in WA, which came with Newmont’s acquisition of Newcrest late last year.

Newmont will also divest its 70 per cent stake in the Havieron project in WA, also gained from Newcrest. Greatland Gold owns the remaining 30 per cent.

Newmont considers these divestments “non-core assets” and plans to generate US$2 billion to boost cash reserves.

• Meanwhile, did you catch this? Donald Trump has launched a line of butt ugly gold-coloured sneakers for US$199 a pair… quickly selling out. At least they weren’t more of his crappy, stolen-artwork NFTs.

If gold fan Trump actually gets back into the White House, it’ll be very interesting to see how gold performs. Upon his election the first time round, the yellow metal initially did very well, before performing particularly poorly for the rest of his time in office.

 

Winners & Losers

Here’s how ASX-listed precious metals stocks are performing, circa midday Feb 23:

Scroll or swipe to reveal table. Click headings to sort. Best viewed on a laptop.

Stocks missing from this list? Quite possibly. Please immediately email [email protected]

Code Company Price % Week % Month Market Cap
MRR Minrex Resources Ltd 0.012 0% -20% $14,103,278
NPM Newpeak Metals 0.014 0% -26% $1,299,373
ASO Aston Minerals Ltd 0.014 -18% -30% $22,016,093
MTC Metalstech Ltd 0.145 -12% -34% $31,177,507
FFX Firefinch Ltd 0.2 0% 0% $236,569,315
GED Golden Deeps 0.04 5% 0% $4,736,416
G88 Golden Mile Res Ltd 0.011 -15% -27% $5,345,897
DCX Discovex Res Ltd 0.002 0% 33% $6,605,136
NMR Native Mineral Res 0.022 5% -8% $4,195,010
AQX Alice Queen Ltd 0.0055 -8% -8% $4,145,905
SLZ Sultan Resources Ltd 0.014 0% -16% $2,074,661
MKG Mako Gold 0.012 -14% 33% $9,312,098
KSN Kingston Resources 0.077 1% 9% $36,849,176
AMI Aurelia Metals Ltd 0.1175 7% 20% $202,772,088
PNX PNX Metals Limited 0.006 -8% 50% $32,283,748
GIB Gibb River Diamonds 0.032 -3% 7% $7,191,321
KCN Kingsgate Consolid. 1.205 -4% 0% $309,302,030
TMX Terrain Minerals 0.0045 13% -10% $6,442,518
BNR Bulletin Res Ltd 0.077 -6% -15% $22,608,226
NXM Nexus Minerals Ltd 0.034 0% -23% $12,838,984
SKY SKY Metals Ltd 0.044 22% 22% $19,840,118
LM8 Lunnonmetalslimited 0.215 -4% -38% $46,834,791
CST Castile Resources 0.075 -5% -11% $18,142,682
YRL Yandal Resources 0.105 -5% 25% $27,923,183
FAU First Au Ltd 0.003 0% 0% $4,985,980
ARL Ardea Resources Ltd 0.44 14% 6% $98,508,458
GWR GWR Group Ltd 0.095 9% 13% $30,515,582
IVR Investigator Res Ltd 0.034 0% 0% $55,435,785
GTR Gti Energy Ltd 0.009 -5% -18% $19,474,497
IPT Impact Minerals 0.012 14% 0% $34,376,447
BNZ Benzmining 0.13 -4% -35% $14,469,777
MOH Moho Resources 0.006 0% -40% $3,235,069
BCM Brazilian Critical 0.022 -8% -12% $17,019,007
PUA Peak Minerals Ltd 0.0025 -17% -17% $2,603,442
MRZ Mont Royal Resources 0.093 0% -15% $7,907,771
SMS Starmineralslimited 0.038 6% 3% $2,885,066
MVL Marvel Gold Limited 0.01 0% -9% $8,637,907
PRX Prodigy Gold NL 0.0035 -56% -42% $7,004,431
AAU Antilles Gold Ltd 0.022 0% 5% $18,884,459
CWX Carawine Resources 0.099 3% -6% $23,376,419
RND Rand Mining Ltd 1.205 -5% -12% $68,535,533
CAZ Cazaly Resources 0.02 -5% -9% $9,547,363
BMR Ballymore Resources 0.1 -9% -33% $17,633,059
DRE Dreadnought Resources Ltd 0.019 -5% -24% $66,149,886
ZNC Zenith Minerals Ltd 0.094 -10% -43% $33,123,803
REZ Resourc & En Grp Ltd 0.01 -9% -23% $4,998,058
LEX Lefroy Exploration 0.12 -17% -20% $26,964,535
ERM Emmerson Resources 0.051 6% -2% $28,869,619
AM7 Arcadia Minerals 0.07 6% 0% $7,306,357
ADT Adriatic Metals 3.07 -6% -11% $768,506,676
AS1 Asara Resources Ltd 0.01 0% -17% $7,927,309
CYL Catalyst Metals 0.465 -12% -30% $103,474,046
CHN Chalice Mining Ltd 0.9975 -8% -2% $394,797,754
KAL Kalgoorliegoldmining 0.021 -5% -25% $3,487,016
MLS Metals Australia 0.03 3% -12% $18,721,086
ADN Andromeda Metals Ltd 0.023 0% -4% $71,536,231
MEI Meteoric Resources 0.1775 1% -11% $378,122,771
SRN Surefire Rescs NL 0.011 -8% 22% $23,557,894
SIH Sihayo Gold Limited 0.0015 50% -25% $18,306,384
WA8 Warriedarresourltd 0.029 -9% -41% $17,586,436
HMX Hammer Metals Ltd 0.045 -13% 7% $39,888,331
WCN White Cliff Min Ltd 0.0145 4% -9% $20,037,890
AVM Advance Metals Ltd 0.04 29% 11% $1,603,398
WRM White Rock Min Ltd 0.063 0% 0% $17,508,200
ASR Asra Minerals Ltd 0.0055 -8% -15% $8,265,812
MCT Metalicity Limited 0.002 0% 0% $8,970,108
AME Alto Metals Limited 0.029 4% -17% $20,924,172
CTO Citigold Corp Ltd 0.004 0% -20% $12,000,000
TIE Tietto Minerals 0.615 0% 2% $689,233,175
SMI Santana Minerals Ltd 1.125 -9% -13% $196,503,816
M2R Miramar 0.018 0% -25% $2,828,521
MHC Manhattan Corp Ltd 0.003 0% -33% $8,810,939
GRL Godolphin Resources 0.04 3% 0% $7,277,407
SVG Savannah Goldfields 0.03 -3% -21% $8,189,455
EMC Everest Metals Corp 0.08 5% 1% $13,142,649
GUL Gullewa Limited 0.056 0% 2% $11,467,294
CY5 Cygnus Metals Ltd 0.06 -14% -35% $18,659,785
G50 Gold50Limited 0.085 -6% -29% $9,508,230
ADV Ardiden Ltd 0.15 -9% -9% $9,690,213
AAR Astral Resources NL 0.062 -3% -6% $49,172,047
VMC Venus Metals Cor Ltd 0.096 -4% -2% $18,213,954
NAE New Age Exploration 0.004 0% -20% $7,175,596
VKA Viking Mines Ltd 0.011 -8% -15% $11,277,843
LCL LCL Resources Ltd 0.01 0% -23% $10,029,868
MTH Mithril Resources 0.002 0% 0% $6,737,609
ADG Adelong Gold Limited 0.005 11% 0% $3,498,278
RMX Red Mount Min Ltd 0.002 0% -33% $6,683,940
PRS Prospech Limited 0.031 0% -28% $8,914,908
TTM Titan Minerals 0.023 21% 0% $39,004,464
NML Navarre Minerals Ltd 0.019 0% 0% $28,555,654
MZZ Matador Mining Ltd 0.039 8% 8% $18,887,799
KZR Kalamazoo Resources 0.095 -21% 0% $16,781,140
BCN Beacon Minerals 0.0215 -7% -10% $86,405,668
MAU Magnetic Resources 0.98 0% 13% $239,773,915
BC8 Black Cat Syndicate 0.195 0% -11% $59,666,418
EM2 Eagle Mountain 0.062 2% -16% $18,602,979
EMR Emerald Res NL 2.85 -7% -10% $1,802,328,457
BYH Bryah Resources Ltd 0.009 -10% -31% $3,468,858
HCH Hot Chili Ltd 1.11 7% 12% $132,584,179
WAF West African Res Ltd 0.8425 0% -10% $877,687,905
MEU Marmota Limited 0.047 -4% 4% $48,704,826
NVA Nova Minerals Ltd 0.265 2% -20% $55,885,866
SVL Silver Mines Limited 0.135 0% -4% $204,902,796
PGD Peregrine Gold 0.235 -6% -20% $18,246,174
ICL Iceni Gold 0.032 -16% -35% $8,629,637
FG1 Flynngold 0.05 -9% -15% $8,042,905
WWI West Wits Mining Ltd 0.014 17% 22% $31,595,091
RML Resolution Minerals 0.004 33% 33% $5,039,987
AAJ Aruma Resources Ltd 0.015 0% -40% $2,953,373
AL8 Alderan Resource Ltd 0.005 25% 11% $4,980,876
GMN Gold Mountain Ltd 0.005 0% 25% $11,389,393
MEG Megado Minerals Ltd 0.014 0% -36% $3,307,922
HMG Hamelingoldlimited 0.075 -5% 0% $11,340,000
TBA Tombola Gold Ltd 0.026 0% 0% $33,129,243
BM8 Battery Age Minerals 0.165 18% -11% $15,140,452
TBR Tribune Res Ltd 2.91 0% -3% $153,731,466
FML Focus Minerals Ltd 0.165 6% -3% $45,849,383
GSR Greenstone Resources 0.008 0% 0% $10,944,908
VRC Volt Resources Ltd 0.007 40% 0% $24,780,640
ARV Artemis Resources 0.016 -11% -6% $27,059,138
HRN Horizon Gold Ltd 0.26 -5% -13% $37,658,380
CLA Celsius Resource Ltd 0.0115 5% -4% $24,706,568
QML Qmines Limited 0.065 -16% -13% $15,509,497
RDN Raiden Resources Ltd 0.023 -12% -12% $63,758,043
TCG Turaco Gold Limited 0.11 -12% -12% $67,630,222
KCC Kincora Copper 0.035 13% -13% $6,936,177
GBZ GBM Rsources Ltd 0.008 0% 0% $7,128,625
DTM Dart Mining NL 0.013 0% -7% $2,958,535
MKR Manuka Resources. 0.074 4% 3% $46,773,712
AUC Ausgold Limited 0.024 -4% -11% $55,107,389
ANX Anax Metals Ltd 0.019 0% -17% $10,306,511
EMU EMU NL 0.001 0% 0% $2,024,771
SFM Santa Fe Minerals 0.045 0% 5% $3,276,846
SSR SSR Mining Inc. 6.73 -3% -55% $36,977,917
PNR Pantoro Limited 0.042 -2% -2% $223,773,312
CMM Capricorn Metals 4.41 4% 2% $1,679,554,738
X64 Ten Sixty Four Ltd 0.57 0% 0% $130,184,182
SI6 SI6 Metals Limited 0.005 11% 0% $8,972,367
HAW Hawthorn Resources 0.083 1% -15% $25,796,202
BGD Bartongoldholdings 0.27 8% 8% $48,162,584
SVY Stavely Minerals Ltd 0.03 0% -17% $11,840,143
AGC AGC Ltd 0.088 16% 31% $17,777,778
RGL Riversgold 0.009 13% 0% $9,676,615
TSO Tesoro Gold Ltd 0.023 5% -8% $29,509,937
GUE Global Uranium 0.125 -7% -19% $27,587,166
CPM Coopermetalslimited 0.26 -13% -4% $17,697,804
MM8 Medallion Metals. 0.059 5% 2% $18,151,447
FFM Firefly Metals Ltd 0.5075 0% 0% $184,974,063
CBY Canterbury Resources 0.031 3% 3% $5,323,968
LYN Lycaonresources 0.19 19% -7% $8,370,688
SFR Sandfire Resources 7.31 4% 11% $3,482,282,118
TMZ Thomson Res Ltd 0.005 0% 0% $4,881,018
TAM Tanami Gold NL 0.029 -3% -15% $34,077,814
WMC Wiluna Mining Corp 0.205 0% 0% $74,238,031
NWM Norwest Minerals 0.032 0% 28% $9,522,794
ALK Alkane Resources Ltd 0.4875 -7% -12% $292,667,099
BMO Bastion Minerals 0.01 0% -41% $3,114,441
IDA Indiana Resources 0.076 -8% -3% $46,758,017
GSM Golden State Mining 0.011 0% 10% $3,073,077
NSM Northstaw 0.036 -25% -10% $5,595,031
GSN Great Southern 0.019 -5% 6% $14,338,069
RED Red 5 Limited 0.31 0% 5% $1,039,140,165
DEG De Grey Mining 1.2575 5% 7% $2,332,594,562
THR Thor Energy PLC 0.026 -7% -28% $4,830,075
CDR Codrus Minerals Ltd 0.043 -12% -23% $3,880,275
MDI Middle Island Res 0.015 -6% -12% $3,264,810
WTM Waratah Minerals Ltd 0.08 -11% 0% $12,397,253
POL Polymetals Resources 0.295 11% 4% $40,980,630
RDS Redstone Resources 0.004 0% -20% $3,701,514
NAG Nagambie Resources 0.025 0% -11% $20,712,528
BGL Bellevue Gold Ltd 1.4325 8% -2% $1,713,032,393
GBR Greatbould Resources 0.059 -3% -6% $35,921,232
KAI Kairos Minerals Ltd 0.0125 -4% -4% $34,071,858
KAU Kaiser Reef 0.135 0% 0% $23,946,145
HRZ Horizon 0.031 -9% -16% $22,431,478
CAI Calidus Resources 0.1475 -2% -27% $98,020,345
CDT Castle Minerals 0.006 -14% -14% $7,959,204
RSG Resolute Mining 0.3425 -1% -14% $723,877,004
MXR Maximus Resources 0.031 -14% -11% $9,949,319
EVN Evolution Mining Ltd 2.955 -1% -6% $5,997,350,829
CXU Cauldron Energy Ltd 0.037 -29% -12% $46,064,347
DLI Delta Lithium 0.3 11% 13% $224,223,187
ALY Alchemy Resource Ltd 0.008 -11% -11% $9,424,610
HXG Hexagon Energy 0.013 8% 30% $6,667,907
OBM Ora Banda Mining Ltd 0.245 2% 17% $418,217,935
SLR Silver Lake Resource 1.015 -1% -14% $944,091,776
AVW Avira Resources Ltd 0.0015 -25% -25% $3,200,685
LCY Legacy Iron Ore 0.015 -6% -17% $96,102,393
PDI Predictive Disc Ltd 0.18 -12% -3% $384,105,156
MAT Matsa Resources 0.026 -7% -4% $13,407,073
ZAG Zuleika Gold Ltd 0.019 -10% -5% $14,721,710
GML Gateway Mining 0.027 17% 8% $9,327,404
SBM St Barbara Limited 0.15 -3% -14% $122,695,557
SBR Sabre Resources 0.02 -5% -23% $7,859,501
STK Strickland Metals 0.081 -2% -26% $141,127,419
ION Iondrive Limited 0.01 0% -9% $4,862,853
CEL Challenger Gold Ltd 0.076 -6% 10% $97,109,965
LRL Labyrinth Resources 0.005 -17% -17% $5,937,719
NST Northern Star 12.72 0% 3% $15,008,827,775
OZM Ozaurum Resources 0.073 -1% -16% $11,747,500
TG1 Techgen Metals Ltd 0.04 -9% -22% $5,339,568
XAM Xanadu Mines Ltd 0.038 -12% -27% $71,434,469
AQI Alicanto Min Ltd 0.024 -4% -37% $14,152,747
KTA Krakatoa Resources 0.014 -13% -30% $7,081,608
ARN Aldoro Resources 0.09 -10% 10% $12,923,879
WGX Westgold Resources. 1.8675 -2% -7% $911,723,755
MBK Metal Bank Ltd 0.018 -10% -25% $6,637,808
A8G Australasian Metals 0.08 -24% -47% $4,482,362
TAR Taruga Minerals 0.008 -11% 0% $5,648,214
DTR Dateline Resources 0.012 0% 9% $15,954,674
GOR Gold Road Res Ltd 1.4325 2% -14% $1,514,969,798
S2R S2 Resources 0.135 -7% -4% $61,135,829
NES Nelson Resources. 0.004 -20% 0% $2,454,377
TLM Talisman Mining 0.18 0% -23% $33,897,663
BEZ Besragoldinc 0.16 3% 23% $64,805,640
PRU Perseus Mining Ltd 1.6775 0% -7% $2,321,323,086
SPQ Superior Resources 0.009 -10% -47% $18,010,984
PUR Pursuit Minerals 0.005 0% -29% $14,719,857
RMS Ramelius Resources 1.37 -8% -11% $1,608,232,230
PKO Peako Limited 0.004 33% 0% $1,581,254
ICG Inca Minerals Ltd 0.006 0% -30% $3,526,958
A1G African Gold Ltd. 0.035 6% -13% $5,925,892
OAU Ora Gold Limited 0.005 -17% -29% $31,570,005
GNM Great Northern 0.018 6% -10% $2,628,694
KRM Kingsrose Mining Ltd 0.033 0% -8% $25,585,902
BTR Brightstar Resources 0.013 -7% -7% $29,629,736
RRL Regis Resources 1.8125 -8% -13% $1,431,367,041
M24 Mamba Exploration 0.034 10% -38% $5,890,633
TRM Truscott Mining Corp 0.05 0% 0% $8,668,353
TNC True North Copper 0.092 7% 35% $33,992,722
MOM Moab Minerals Ltd 0.007 0% 0% $4,983,744
KNB Koonenberrygold 0.02 -47% -75% $3,233,225
AWJ Auric Mining 0.125 9% 4% $15,048,853
AZS Azure Minerals 3.515 -3% -4% $1,596,204,921
ENR Encounter Resources 0.24 -6% -9% $98,551,441
SNG Siren Gold 0.058 4% -15% $9,331,338
STN Saturn Metals 0.145 -12% -26% $33,518,851
USL Unico Silver Limited 0.092 0% -16% $26,940,695
PNM Pacific Nickel Mines 0.038 -16% -32% $15,893,618
AYM Australia United Min 0.003 0% 50% $5,527,732
ANL Amani Gold Ltd 0.001 0% 0% $25,143,441
HAV Havilah Resources 0.145 -6% -9% $47,495,882
SPR Spartan Resources 0.4675 -7% 17% $468,176,876
PNT Panthermetalsltd 0.04 -18% -33% $4,096,810
MEK Meeka Metals Limited 0.033 -11% -13% $41,980,104
GMD Genesis Minerals 1.5625 4% -3% $1,744,368,046
PGO Pacgold 0.135 -10% -27% $11,149,271
FEG Far East Gold 0.135 0% 0% $24,381,838
MI6 Minerals260Limited 0.175 17% -20% $43,290,000
IGO IGO Limited 7.235 5% 3% $5,543,200,391
GAL Galileo Mining Ltd 0.24 4% 9% $47,429,982
RXL Rox Resources 0.1525 -8% -2% $57,249,910
KIN KIN Min NL 0.059 -9% -5% $73,045,334
CLZ Classic Min Ltd 0.001 0% 0% $12,357,085
TGM Theta Gold Mines Ltd 0.135 0% 29% $96,057,878
FAL Falconmetalsltd 0.105 -13% -13% $18,585,000
SXG Southern Cross Gold 1.235 12% 31% $115,271,197
SPD Southernpalladium 0.42 0% 31% $17,662,114
ORN Orion Minerals Ltd 0.013 -7% -7% $81,847,986
TMB Tambourahmetals 0.091 8% 0% $7,381,691
TMS Tennant Minerals Ltd 0.03 -3% 0% $22,935,398
AZY Antipa Minerals Ltd 0.011 -8% -27% $49,617,695
PXX Polarx Limited 0.014 0% 0% $22,954,635
TRE Toubani Res Ltd 0.12 4% -4% $16,063,880
AUN Aurumin 0.034 -3% 10% $12,187,065
GPR Geopacific Resources 0.016 0% 3% $13,147,478
FXG Felix Gold Limited 0.034 -8% -24% $7,045,314
ILT Iltani Resources Lim 0.155 -3% -18% $5,271,628
ARD Argent Minerals 0.009 0% 0% $11,625,831
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More, from around the gilt edges…

… of Elon Musk’s social platform.