With analysts expecting another strong earnings quarter from Newmont (NYSE:NEM) when it announces its June quarter results on 24 July, main street investors should start taking notice of gold stocks, Junior Miner Junky editor David Erfle told Kitco Mining's Digging Deep.

"I see smart money coming into Newmont. ... The Newmont share price is the big boy, the bellwether, the one that everybody looks at. ... Since the end of February, they've been leading the gold stocks up," said Erfle.

In anticipation of better days ahead, major mining houses such as Agnico Eagle Mines, Zijin Mining and Barrick Gold continue to take foothold positions in junior explorers and developers with both gold and copper projects.

"The world's biggest mining companies are all seeking to expand in copper in anticipation of rising prices as demand for clean power and data centers are forecast to outstrip supply in the future," said Erfle.

Recent days have seen Zijin Mining buy a 9.9% stake in African gold developer Montage Gold for C$57.3 million, South African mining firm Assore invest C$68 million for a 14.99% stake in Chilean copper developer Marimaca Copper, Agnico Eagle Mines invest another C$99 million to maintain its 9.9% stake in Canadian copper developer Foran Mining and take a 13.3% stake in Finland gold explorer First Nordic Metals, and market rumors of BHP and Lundin Mining potentially double-teaming to buy Filo.

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