Based in Toronto, Barrick Gold is one of the world's largest gold miners. In 2023, the firm produced nearly 4.1 million attributable ounces of gold and about 420 million pounds of copper. At year-end 2023, Barrick had about two decades of gold reserves along with significant copper reserves. After buying Randgold in 2019 and combining its Nevada mines in a joint venture with competitor Newmont later that year, it operates mines in 19 countries in the Americas, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. The company also has growing copper exposure. Its potential Reko Diq project in Pakistan, if developed, could double copper production by the end of the decade.

Based in Toronto, Barrick Gold is one of the world's largest gold miners. In 2023, the firm produced nearly 4.1 million attributable ounces of gold and about 420 million pounds of copper. At year-end 2023, Barrick had about two decades of gold reserves along with significant copper reserves. After buying Randgold in 2019 and combining its Nevada mines in a joint venture with competitor Newmont later that year, it operates mines in 19 countries in the Americas, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. The company also has growing copper exposure. Its potential Reko Diq project in Pakistan, if developed, could double copper production by the end of the decade.

Based in Toronto, Barrick Gold is one of the world's largest gold miners. In 2023, the firm produced nearly 4.1 million attributable ounces of gold and about 420 million pounds of copper. At year-end 2023, Barrick had about two decades of gold reserves along with significant copper reserves. After buying Randgold in 2019 and combining its Nevada mines in a joint venture with competitor Newmont later that year, it operates mines in 19 countries in the Americas, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. The company also has growing copper exposure. Its potential Reko Diq project in Pakistan, if developed, could double copper production by the end of the decade.

The U.S. stock market tends to rise, notwithstanding a pullback or correction from time to time. The long-term upward trajectory has a foundation in the country's democratic political system and its market-based, capitalist economic system that is relatively transparent and rewards innovation. In theory, the stock market efficiently allocates the nation's capital, generating solid returns over economic cycles. And then there is September. Indeed, our analysis of monthly S&P 500 returns going back to 1980 indicates that September is now the only month with an average loss. Now not every September is negative. The month has a "win percentage" of 46%. But there have been some bombs, including 2022 (-9.3%), 1986 (-8.5%), 2001 (-8.2%), 2002 (-11%), 2008 (-14%) and 2011 (-7.2%). Last year, the S&P 500 fell 5.0% in the month, and 2022 was a 4.8% loser. September is a transition month: the August doldrums are over and corporations get back into gear after Labor Day. The IPO market typically picks up. The Federal Reserve meets, which can add to volatility. And, sometimes ominously, the third-quarter earnings season approaches. By the end of 3Q, companies are pretty sure if they are (or are not) on track to meet their financial targets. If they are not and they pre-warn about disappointing results, investors can be quick to sell not just a company but an entire sector.