A gold mining firm has a dividend growth rate of 4.1 percent, beta of -0.24 (minus), a stock price of $45 a share, and an expected annual dividend of $2.12 per share next year. The market rate of return is 12.6 percent and the risk-free rate is 5.7 percent. What is the best estimate for the firm's cost of equity using all of the info given? a) 4.04% b) 8.81% c) 8.69% d) none