
Ghana Seeks to Shield Budget Goal as Nurses Strike Over Pay Deal
President John Mahama who came to power this year after winning election in December plans to cut the overall fiscal deficit to 3.1% of gross domestic product this year from 7.9% of GDP in 2024, in order to sustain recovery of the economy after a debt crisis under the previous administration. He also aims to achieve a primary budget surplus of 1.5% of GDP versus a 3.9% deficit last year.
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Newmont (NEM) Secures Akyem Lease Ratification With US$770 Million Divestiture Proceeds
Newmont recently announced that the Ghanaian Parliament ratified the renewal of the Akyem East Mining Lease, with Zijin Mining Group paying $100 million as part of Newmont's divestiture program expected to generate $3.1 billion this year. This financial boost aligns with the company's capital priorities of debt reduction and shareholder returns. Over the last quarter, Newmont's share price experienced a 21% increase. Despite market volatility influenced by tariffs and weak jobs data, Newmont's decisive divestiture strategy and substantial after-tax proceeds may have bolstered its share price gains, contrasting broader market declines. Every company has risks, and we've spotted 2 weaknesses for Newmont (of which 1 is a bit concerning!) you should know about. These 18 companies survived and thrived after COVID and have the right ingredients to survive Trump's tariffs. Discover why before your portfolio feels the trade war pinch. The recent approval of Newmont's Akyem East Mining Lease renewal and the substantial capital injection from its asset divestiture program should reinforce the company's commitment to capital priorities such as debt reduction and enhancing shareholder returns. Over a three-year period, Newmont's total return, which includes share price appreciation and dividends, was 54.49%. This reflects steady long-term growth, despite being more impressive in the recent quarter with a 21% increase. Over the past year, Newmont's performance outpaced both the US Metals and Mining industry, which returned 13.4%, and the broader US market, which returned 17.7%. The divestiture proceeds of US$3.1 billion may bolster Newmont's revenue and earnings trajectory, feeding into ongoing portfolio optimization and potentially elevating operational efficiency. Analysts anticipate revenue growth of 2.7% annually, supported by high-margin projects and strategic asset focus. However, forecasts indicate a decline in earnings of 2.6% per year over the next three years, suggesting closer attention to cost management and project execution risks may be warranted. With the share price at US$62.59, it's trading at a 12.42% discount to the analyst consensus price target of US$70.36, indicating potential room for growth if management successfully mitigates operational challenges and leverages the favorable economic factors continuing to support gold prices. Understand Newmont's track record by examining our performance history report. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Companies discussed in this article include NEM. This article was originally published by Simply Wall St. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@ Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data
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Prediction: check out the eye-popping NatWest share price and dividend forecast
The NatWest Group (LSE: NWG) share price has had a stellar run. Given the misery inflicted on investors in the 15 years after the financial crisis, its return to form is frankly eye-popping. Shares in the FTSE 100 bank are up 43% over the last 12 months. Over five years, they've grown a fabulous 363%. Investors have pocketed dividends too, with a trailing yield of 4.13%. That figure actually underrates the generosity, since the yield has been squeezed by the share price growth. Profits, guidance and buybacks So what's driving this? NatWest has been helped by solid earnings, the sale of the government's final stake and a broadly supportive environment. Other high street banks have enjoyed a strong run too. In May, the government finally sold the last of its stake in the bank, ending one of the most expensive bailouts in UK corporate history. That's made for a clearer future. On 25 July, NatWest posted better-than-expected interim results and threw in a new £750m share buyback. Pre-tax operating profits rose 18% to £3.6bn for the half-year, comfortably ahead of expectations. The dividend was raised a mighty 58% to 9.5p. It also bumped up guidance. Return on tangible equity is now forecast to hit 16.5%, with full-year income above £16bn. That's up from earlier guidance of £15.2bn to £15.7bn. The bank's structural hedge is also playing its part. With low-yielding assets being reinvested at 3.7%, it's expected to deliver £1bn of income this year alone. Risks and realism Despite the recent surge, there are risks. NatWest shares dipped slightly after the results as Shore Capital warned on 28 July that strong recent returns will be hard to sustain. The UK economy is proving sticky, house prices aren't exactly booming and profit margins on mortgages are being squeezed. If the Bank of England cuts interest rates later this year, margins could be squeezed too. And the government is coming under pressure to hit banks with fresh taxes in the autumn Budget. Growth and income forecast With the stock trading around 521.4p, analysts have a median 12-month price target of 588.8p. That's a potential rise of nearly 15%. Pretty good given the strong recent run. The dividend forecast is just as interesting. The projected yield for this year is 5.76%. Add that to a possible share price gain, and total returns could be north of 20%. The yield is forecast to hit 6.46% next year. So is NatWest expensive as a result? No. The current price-to-earnings ratio is just 10.04, with a forecast P/E of 8.7. The price-to-book ratio has risen to around 0.96, from about 0.6 last year. It's no longer a bargain-bin share, but still not overpriced either. Of the 20 analysts covering the stock, 15 rate it a Buy and five say Hold. No sellers. I'm always cautious about chasing a share after a strong run. But given the outlook, I think NatWest is worth considering today. If the market wobbles in August, as many suspect it might, it could become even more tempting. The post Prediction: check out the eye-popping NatWest share price and dividend forecast appeared first on The Motley Fool UK. More reading 5 Stocks For Trying To Build Wealth After 50 One Top Growth Stock from the Motley Fool Harvey Jones has no position in any of the shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has no position in any of the shares mentioned. Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. Motley Fool UK 2025 Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data