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...