Spot gold prices hit their highest levels since mid-June, nearing $4,600 on Friday, before easing slightly Monday. The S&P/TSX Composite Index hit a record high Monday, with mining stock Aya Gold and Silver gaining as much as 3.7 per cent in mid-day trading. (The Logic)

Talking point: Executives and analysts told The Globe and Mail that they hope the rally will fuel dealmaking for the 40 per cent of the world’s public mining companies that are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange. Last week, U.S.-based Royal Gold unveiled a multibillion-dollar deal that included the takeover of Vancouver-based Sandstorm Gold. Gold miners have been major M&A targets over the past two years, including deals by Canadian precious metals companies like SilverCrest, Osisko and Alamos. The S&P/TSX Global Gold Index is up nearly 50 per cent so far this year, as investors flock to the precious metal as a hedge against U.S. tariff policies, and central banks diversify their U.S. dollar holdings.