Gold Slides Below $4400 as Rate Fears Spur Miner M&A Focus

Gold has extended its pullback below $4,400/oz, marking a two-month low driven by inflation concerns and expectations of year-end rate hikes. The decline follows strong miner performances on May 26, when Orla Mining was named Zacks Bull of the Day after EPS upgrades and IAMGOLD posted Q1 EPS of $0.64 with revenue surging 116%. Experts Tom Winmill and Rick Rule view the move as temporary consolidation, citing continued central-bank buying, record free cash flow at producers, and accelerating M&A activity as companies seek to replace reserves amid permitting constraints.