According to CoinMeta, Perseus Mining CEO Craig Jones stated that fluctuations in gold prices are affecting the completion of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) transactions, with many companies struggling to reach an agreement on valuations. He pointed out that although M&A activities remain active, not many deals are actually closing. Jones also mentioned that the rush to acquire gold is facing valuation barriers. The deal for Zijin Gold to acquire Allied Gold for $4 billion failed before it could be closed, and Northern Star also rejected a takeover bid of A$38.7 billion from Gold Fields. Jones noted that companies are making great efforts to assess the trend of gold prices before making transaction decisions. According to TradingView data, gold prices have risen by about 25% in 2026, but they have since fallen by approximately 8% as of mid-July.