Top gold mining stocks, both in earnings and stock performance, include Randgold,Agnico Eagle ( AEM ),Iamgold ( IAG ),Royal Gold ( RGLD ) andAllied Nevada Gold ( ANV ). But low interest rates and fear of inflation, due in part to quantitative easing, give gold a chance to show its strength as a shape-shifting asset. As for gold miners, said HSBC Securities analyst Patrick Chidley, "I think the stocks are very cheap and trading on multiples we haven't seen in decades."