mineral exploration project – commodity prices – mining stock- trade and market

The world’s second largest gold producer said it plans to link its dividend to gold prices and added it would raise production by more than a third by 2017.

Newmont Mining Corp , the second-largest gold producer in the world, plans to link its dividend to gold prices, and said it will target to raise production of the precious metal by more than a third by 2017.

Denver-based Newmont’s shares, which have trailed the Arca Gold Bugs Index since the beginning of the year, rose 4 percent to $58.72 in early trade. The index, which tracks 16 of the world’s largest bullion...

Gold futures rose, extending the longest rally since November, as the dollar dropped against the euro, boosting the appeal of the precious metal as an alternative asset.

The greenback fell as much as 1.1 percent after a payroll report signaled the U.S. will be slow in recouping jobs lost in the recession. Gold reached a three-week high. The metal has advanced 10 percent this year, climbing to a record $1,266.50 an ounce on June 21.

Gold prices, little changed in New York today, may decline for a fourth day after China’s inflation and industrial output accelerated, adding pressure on the government to pare stimulus measures.

China’s inflation reached a 16-month high and production increased the most in more than five years. Bullion climbed 24 percent last year as central banks maintained low interest rates and spent trillions to stimulate economies. Gold prices dropped the most in a month yesterday on speculation demand for the metal will slow as the Greek financial crisis eases.