Gold now trades at $1,219 U.S. an ounce and silver at $14.38. Those prices are below the 2011 highs for both metals, but above the lows reached in 2015 (when gold fell to just over $1,000 an ounce).
These precious metals have gained over the last couple years, helped by fears that growing government deficits around the world will lower the value of global currencies. While the prices of gold and silver receded earlier in 2018, they have been up again recently.
An improving U.S. economy and low unemployment led the U.S. Federal Reserve to raise interest rates three times in 2017. In 2018, the Fed has already raised the key interest rate three times, with another increase forecast before the end of the year. That dampens the risk of a falling U.S. dollar and much-stronger inflation. Typically, both of those factors are needed to significantly boost demand for gold and silver.
However, if you want to hold precious-metal stocks, these two ETFs invest in top-quality global miners with sound production, positive cash flow and strong prospects. Both also have low fees.
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ISHARES S&P/TSX GLOBAL GOLD INDEX ETF (Toronto symbol XGD; buy or sell through brokers; ca.ishares.com) aims to mirror the performance of the S&P/TSX Global Gold Index; it’s made up of 44 gold stocks from Canada and around the world. The ETF began trading on March 23, 2001. Its MER is 0.61%.
The fund’s top holdings include Newmont Mining, 15.0%; Franco-Nevada Corp., 10.5%; Barrick Gold, 10.0%; Goldcorp, 8.4%; Agnico-Eagle Mines, 7.5%; Randgold Resources (ADR), 5.3%; and Royal Gold, 4.2%.
Canadian companies comprise 66.3% of the ETF’s total assets, but the fund also holds miners based in the U.S. (20.0%), South Africa (6.3%), the U.K. (5.3%) and Peru (2.1%).
Recommendation in Canadian Wealth Advisor: iShares S&P/TSX Global Gold Index is a hold.
ETFs: Canadian stocks represent over 40% of this ETF’s holdings
GLOBAL X SILVER MINERS ETF (New York symbol SIL; buy or sell through brokers; www.globalxfunds.com) aims to track the performance of the Solactive Global Silver Miners Index.
Established in April 2010, the ETF follows 24 international firms that mine, refine or explore for silver. The fund has 41.7% of its assets in Canada. That’s ahead of Mexico (15.8%), the U.S. (14.1%), Russia (13.2%), South Korea (10.6%) and Peru (4.6%). The ETF has an MER of 0.65%.
The fund’s top holdings include Polymetal International at 13.8%; Wheaton Precious Metals, 13.1%; Korea Zinc, 11.8%; Fresnillo plc, 9.8%; Pan American Silver, 5.2%; SSR Mining, 4.9%; Tahoe Resources, 4.7%; Hecla Mining, 4.6%; Coeur Mining, 4.3%; and Industrias Penoles, 4.3%.
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The Successful Investor Inc. and its affiliate Successful Investor Wealth Management (referred to hereafter as TSI Network) know that you care how information about you is used and shared, and we appreciate your trust that we will do so carefully and sensibly. This notice describes our privacy policy. By visiting websites owned by or associated with TSI Network, you are accepting the practices described in this Privacy Policy.
This privacy policy is applicable to all TSI Network Visitors, Clients, Employees, Suppliers, Web sites, Management, and all other interested parties. Any links to or from our site are not covered by this policy. We encourage you to read the privacy policies of every site that you visit.
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We do not collect or disclose personal information, except when it is provided to us voluntarily by the site/store visitor with their consent.
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What personal information do we collect?
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TSI Network may revise this Policy from time to time.
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