For gold miners a hugh week ahead

London (Oct 23)  Summary•Investors in gold miners have a huge week ahead. •Many major gold miners are reporting earnings.•The reports are likely to set a tone for the entire sector and serve as a weighty catalyst this week.

•Actual earnings results should be positive, due to a positive trend for gold prices into the quarter end.

•However, guidance from miners might be deflating given the price declines in gold and silver since September end.

I regularly discuss the impact I see from various issues and factors on the prices of precious metals, which in turn play a critical role in the price movement of gold and silver miners' shares. But this week presents a very critical, immediate and direct catalyst for gold miner shares that you should be aware of.

VanEck Vectors Gold Miners ETF stock chart 

GDX Chart at Seeking Alpha

Earnings Reports will Influence Tone

The week ahead presents the earnings reports of several components of the VanEck Vectors Gold Miners ETF (NYSE: GDX), including some of the most significant gold miners on the market. The earnings results of these companies should play importantly for the shares of gold miners broadly and thus influence to some degree the movement of the GDX and also the VanEck Vectors Junior Gold Miners ETF (NYSE: GDXJ).

Gold prices were steady to rising through the quarter ended in September, as indicated by rising EPS estimates through the quarter. Thus, the earnings results of the miners should be enthusing. However, because of a recent decline in the price of gold since quarter-end, corporate earnings guidance moving forward could be disappointing for the sector.

Source: SeekingAlpha