Aug 21, 2026 · 7 min

Gold miners surge and Merck hits record high on vaccine trials

Newmont Leads Mining Stocks, Ross Stores Gains, Merck Hits All-Time High

Understanding the specific catalysts behind sudden stock surges helps investors identify broader trends in retail resilience, defensive commodities, and biotech breakthroughs.

3 key takeaways

1A massive rally in gold mining stocks is led by Newmont as spot gold prices continue to climb.
2Ross Stores is trading higher after upgrading its full-year earnings forecast on resilient consumer demand.
3Merck achieved a record-high stock price following positive cancer vaccine trial results with Moderna.

Don't miss

Tatiana Daria details how Merck reached a historic record high following positive cancer vaccine trial results with Moderna.

The brief

A surge in spot gold prices is driving massive gains across the mining sector, signaling a major shift in investor sentiment toward defensive assets. Newmont leads the charge with an impressive forty-seven percent gain since July.

Discount retailer Ross Stores is outperforming expectations by raising its full-year earnings forecast, proving that budget-conscious consumer spending remains highly resilient despite broader economic uncertainties.

Pharmaceutical giant Merck has reached a historic all-time high. The stock surge follows highly promising results from a joint cancer vaccine trial conducted with biotechnology leader Moderna, sparking fresh optimism in oncology.

What was said on this episode

11 statements · 10 positive · 1 neutral

Tatiana Dariaon NewmontPositive1:25
Newmont has risen 47% from July lows, triple gold’s rally.
“this mining stocks have been on a tear. Just Newmont tickers Nem up 47% since July lows. That is triple the rally in gold.”
Listen at 1:25
Tatiana Dariaon Gold miningPositive1:41
Mining stocks offer a leveraged way to bet on gold prices.
“they can look to miners because they always offer sort of a supercharged way”
Listen at 1:41
Tatiana Dariaon Gold mining companiesPositive1:51
Higher gold prices improve mining companies’ margins.
“you get to start having better margins with higher prices”
Listen at 1:51
Tatiana Dariaon GoldPositive2:05
Gold prices are driving mining stocks’ gains today.
“Gold is what's driving them today.”
Listen at 2:05
Tatiana Dariaon Ross Stores, Inc.Positive2:17
Ross Stores rose about 5% after raising its full-year profit forecast.
“Ross Stores up about 5% after boosting its profit forecast for the full year.”
Listen at 2:17
Tatiana Dariaon U.S. consumersPositive2:34
Ross Stores’ report indicates consumers are doing relatively well.
“consumers are doing pretty well from what Ross stores is saying.”
Listen at 2:34
Tatiana Dariaon MerckPositive3:22
Merck gained about 2% and reached a fresh all-time high.
“it is extending those gains today up about 2% and touching a fresh all time high earlier.”
Listen at 3:22
Tatiana Dariaon Cancer vaccinesPositive3:44
The personalized cancer vaccine results were highly significant for biotech and healthcare.
“this was huge, right? Huge for biotech, huge for the health care industry”
Listen at 3:44
Tatiana Dariaon Merck price targetsPositive4:00
Analysts have been raising their price targets for Merck.
“analysts have been boosting their price targets here on Merck.”
Listen at 4:00
Tatiana Dariaon Healthcare industryPositive4:16
Healthcare is currently the S&P 500’s best-performing sector over three months.
“health care in a good spot right now. The best performing sector over the past three months in the S&P 500.”
Listen at 4:16
Tatiana Dariaon Healthcare companies’ earningsNeutral4:23
Healthcare companies’ earnings must meet elevated expectations.
“earnings have to deliver on those high expectations.”
Listen at 4:23

Statements are attributed to the speaker as said on the episode and reflect their view at the time, not PodLume's. They are not advice.