The Globe and Mail reports in its Monday edition that despite negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on production and costs, rising prices for gold are expected to buoy results as Canada's precious-metals miners begin rolling out second-quarter financial results this week. A Canadian Press dispatch to The Globe says that in the three months ended June 30, the average gold price was $1,713 an ounce, up 8 per cent over the first quarter, said RBC Capital Markets in a report this week. "Q2 may not be that bad after all," RBC said. The bank's analysts say they expect mine suspensions and lower productivity owing to measures to control the pandemic will result in 11 per cent lower gold and silver production and a 4-per-cent rise in overall costs, but higher gold prices will largely offset those effects. In a preliminary report earlier this week, Barrick Gold said second quarter gold production fell 8 per cent mainly because of COVID-19 related disruptions at its Veladero mine in Argentina. Temporary mine closings, and costs for new health and safety protocols will weigh heavily on second-quarter results for miners. However, lower energy prices could cut 3 per cent to 5 per cent from operating costs.