Precious metals lead the way

Article Excerpt

The month of July saw strong returns for investors in precious-metals ETFs. The iShares Silver ETF (SLV) gained 27.9%, the VanEck Gold Miners ETF (GDX) was up 13.5%, and the SPDR Gold Shares ETF (GLD) rose 9.8%. Other ETFs that made significant advances were the iShares U.S. Home Construction ETF (ITB) which gained 17.6%, and the Global X Global Copper Miners ETF (COPX), up 12.9%. The common drivers for all these ETFs were low U.S. interest rates, a weaker U.S. dollar and signs of a global economic recovery. At the broad market level, the Vanguard Total World Stocks ETF (VT) gained 5.7% in the month, the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) 5.0%, and the iShares MSCI Canada Equity ETF (EWC), 6.0%. The iShares Emerging Markets ETF (IEMG), propelled by China and India, beat the developed markets with a 9.3% gain. Fixed income lagged during the month. The Vanguard International Bond ETF (BNDX) gained just 0.9% while the iShares Canadian Government Bond ETF (XGB) added 0.8%. Others, such as the Vanguard Mortgage-Backed ETF (VMBS), also struggled, with a 0.1% gain. The global real estate investment trusts—iShares Global…