Anglogold Ashanti's stock plummeted 6.80% during intraday trading on Friday, as the gold mining sector faced broad selling pressure.

The decline was driven by multiple factors including falling bullion prices, with spot gold down 1.9% amid concerns about higher inflation and interest rates. Higher oil prices and persistent tensions in the Middle East reinforced expectations of tighter monetary policy, weighing on gold prices which are down over 3% for the week.

Additionally, Anglogold Ashanti's first-quarter revenue fell short of market expectations, dampening investor sentiment despite the company reporting record quarterly cash flows. The movement was amplified by a sector-wide pullback, with major gold mining peers also trading lower during the session.