Rising gold prices, more acquisitions and further project development expected According to PwC's new annual Gold Price Report, 80% of mining companies expect the price of gold to continue to increase this year, with the majority of respondents expecting gold to peak at US$2,000 per ounce in 2012. Additionally, with 29% of respondents expecting to spend their cash on acquisitions this year and 40% of companies planning to replace reserves through acquisitions, it's evident that acquisitions remain on the minds of gold mining executives for 2012.