Topic: ETFs

Our outlook on gold and silver and two precious metals ETFs

Our outlook on gold and silver and two precious metals ETFs

Most precious metals stocks dropped when gold fell to $1,200 U.S. an ounce and silver declined to $18.50 U.S. an ounce in June 2013. Both metals have rebounded somewhat lately, with gold now at $1,371 and silver at $22.92.

Here are two low-fee exchange traded funds that offer global gold and silver miners.

ISHARES S&P/TSX GLOBAL GOLD INDEX FUND (Toronto symbol XGD; ca.ishares.com; buy or sell through brokers) aims to mirror the performance of the S&P/TSX Global Gold Index.

This index is made up of 49 gold stocks from Canada and around the world. The fund’s MER is 0.60%. iShares S&P/TSX Global Gold Index Fund began trading on March 23, 2001.

The fund’s top 10 holdings are Goldcorp at 16.7%; Barrick Gold, 13.3%; Newmont Mining, 11.0%; Yamana Gold, 6.0%; Randgold Resources (ADR), 5.0%; Franco Nevada, 4.7%; Kinross, 4.4%; Eldorado Gold, 4.2%; Agnico-Eagle Mines, 3.6%; and AngloGold Ashanti (ADR), 3.6%.

GLOBAL X SILVER MINERS ETF (New York symbol SIL; www.globalxfunds.com; buy or sell through brokers) tracks the Solactive Global Silver Miners Index.

This index includes 30 international companies that mine, refine or explore for silver. Germany-based Structured Solutions AG developed the Global X Silver Miners Index.

Canadian companies make up 56.2% of the fund’s holdings, but it also includes miners based in the U.S. (16.2%) and Mexico (10.4%). The fund’s MER is 0.65%.

The ETF’s top holdings are Fresnillo plc at 12.9%; followed by Silver Wheaton at 12.0%; Industrias Penoles, 8.1%; McEwen Mining, 5.6%; Tahoe Resources, 4.4%; First Majestic Silver, 5.3%; Silver Standard Resources, 5.3%; Silvercorp Minerals, 5.1%; Hecla Mining, 4.7%; and Hochschild Mining plc, 4.6%.

(Note: If you are a current subscriber to Canadian Wealth Advisor, please click here to view Pat’s recommendation. Be sure to log in first.)

In the latest issue of Canadian Wealth Advisor, we look at the outlook for gold and silver and whether prices are ever likely to regain their 2011 highs. We conclude with our clear buy-hold-sell advice on both of these exchange-traded funds.

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Does a rise or fall in the price of precious metals affect your personal investment strategy in any way? If you invest in gold or silver, do you buy individual stocks, funds of precious metal stocks or some form of the metal itself?

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