The Globe and Mail reports in its Thursday edition that Barrick Gold reported a weaker-than-expected second-quarter adjusted profit on Wednesday, hurt primarily by lower gold sales, along with higher maintenance and fuel costs. A Reuters dispatch to The Globe says that Barrick maintained its full-year forecast to produce 4.5 million to five million ounces of gold, positioning the company to lose its title of world's biggest gold producer this year to Newmont Mining. In an industry under increasing pressure to grow, Barrick announced a high-grade discovery at Fourmile, in its Cortez district in Nevada, where it will spend another $10-million on exploration this year. Expansion projects in Nevada and the Dominican Republic were on schedule and budget, it added. Barrick said it eliminated some positions and closed small offices in the quarter and expects savings to offset $30-million in severance costs. Barrick said adjusted net earnings for the quarter ended June 30 fell to $8-million, or seven cents a share, compared with $261-million, or 22 cents a share in the same period a year ago. That lagged the 11-cent-a-share profit that analysts. Barrick closed Wednesday at $15.43, down 17 cents in Toronto.