The CEO of Newmont (NYSE: NEM), the world’s top gold producer, has called on the industry to maintain financial discipline despite soaring gold prices. Speaking at a mining conference in Johannesburg, Natascha Viljoen warned against overspending or reckless investment decisions, even as gold prices hit record highs.
Gold surged in 2025, reaching a peak of $5,595 an ounce in January 2026, driven by safe-haven demand. While prices have since dipped 4.7% this year due to expectations of prolonged high interest rates, analysts predict gold could climb to $5,013 an ounce within the next 12 months. Viljoen emphasized that the current market presents an opportunity for investors to benefit from expanding margins.
Viljoen cautioned that losing focus on cost discipline could lead to poor decisions when market conditions shift. She described gold as a 'store of long-term value' amid global geopolitical uncertainty and a 'low-risk investment' increasingly sought by governments, fund managers, and individual investors for their reserves or portfolios.