The gold price is the currency of fear

The latest decline in the price of gold is saddling higher-cost producers with losses on every ounce mined, and pushing others to the brink of also slipping into the red.

Gold fell to a four-year low of $1,160.50 an ounce last week, below production costs for five of 19 mining companies tracked by Bloomberg Intelligence, including Harmony Gold Mining Co., South Africa’s third-largest producer, and Primero Mining Corp. Three more producers are within $50.

Gold falling to $1,100 would mean some companies may have lines of credit withdrawn, may suspend high-cost mines, or they may have to hedge output, according to RBC’s Walker.

“New development projects will likely not get board approval,”

The gold price is the currency of fear