Physical gold ETFs retreated over the past week. That situation has been particularly onerous for gold mining equities and ETFs.
The largest ETF backed by physical holdings of gold has more than tripled YTD returns of the S&P 500. Some investors may interpret that as meaning bullion's upside from here could be capped.
For some novice investors, gold can be a frustrating asset. There are examples of it not living up to its reputation as a hedging asset over shorter holding periods.
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This fund is designed for investors seeking exposure to the gold sector through a blend of gold futures contracts and equities. It diversifies its investments between direct gold futures contracts listed in the U.S. and global equity securities from companies with at least half their revenue originating from gold mining. The focus is on a market capitalization-weighted portfolio of global gold mining companies, aiming to provide investors with growth opportunities within the gold mining industry. The fund holds the flexibility to invest in U.S. Treasury securities and other highly liquid short-term investments as a form of collateral for its futures contracts. By pursuing a non-diversified investment strategy, the fund primarily targets specific opportunities in the gold mining and futures markets rather than spreading its investments across a broad array of sectors.
The fund invests in U.S.-listed gold futures contracts to provide direct exposure to the price movements of gold without the need for physical ownership. These contracts are used as a key component to speculate on future gold prices and hedge against market volatility.
An investment in a carefully selected basket of global equity securities issued by companies that derive a majority of their revenue from gold mining. The selection is generally weighted by market capitalization, offering exposure to leading gold miners around the globe.
As part of its strategy to manage risk and provide collateral for its gold futures contracts, the fund may allocate part of its investments towards U.S. Treasury securities and other liquid short-term investments. This allows the fund to maintain flexibility and liquidity.