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Systemic Risks Spark Gold’s Gains

May 11, 2020

Read Time 7 MIN

 

Gold and Gold Stocks Have a Very Strong April

Gold and gold stocks had a strong month, recovering all of their March losses and moving to long-term highs. As the pandemic market panic subsides, investors are trying to gauge the risks and opportunities in a world that carries a level of uncertainty that only those with memories of the Great Depression and WWII have experienced. Continued strong inflows to bullion exchange traded products along with strong demand for retail coins indicates both institutions and individuals are turning to gold as a store of value and hedge against uncertainty. Gold jumped $40 per ounce on April 9 when the U.S. Federal Reserve (Fed) unveiled an unprecedented $2.3 trillion program to aid local governments and small- and mid-sized businesses. It went on to a new seven-year high of $1,747 per ounce on April 14, then consolidated its gains around the $1,700 level. Gold ended the month at $1,686 per ounce for a $109 (6.9%) gain.

Many Large Gold Miners Buck the Trend of Disappearing Dividends

A recent Wall Street Journal article states: “More companies have suspended or canceled their dividends so far this year than in the previous ten years combined”. In contrast, in the midst of a colossal crisis, Yamana Gold increased its dividend 25%, Newmont 79%, and Kirkland Lake 100%.* All three companies have temporarily suspended production at some of their mines due to the lockdowns. These companies exemplify the financial strength and earnings power of the gold industry. For April, the NYSE Arca Gold Miners Net Total Return Index (GDMNTR)gained 38.64%, breaking out to seven-year highs. While most industries are struggling, the gold industry is thriving while dealing with COVID-19 protocols and suspended operations. On April 13, BofA Global Research estimated 11% of global gold output had been idled. Since then, Mexico issued partial closure orders, while Quebec, Argentina, New Zealand, and South Africa have allowed gold miners to go back to work. We expect most remaining gold mine lockdowns to be lifted in May.

Four Drivers of the Secular Shift

Gold carries no counterparty risk, its supply is limited, it fits in small places, exists outside of the mainstream financial system, and is universally seen as a store of value. These attributes make it a unique safe haven investment. Likewise, gold companies hold vast resources of gold locked in the ground that only they have the technology and skills to extract and bring to market. While gold and gold stocks are highly tradeable, volumes are dwarfed by stock, bond and currency markets. A relatively small shift in global asset allocations can drive the gold markets. We believe such a secular shift has begun, driven by four broad categories of systemic risk - Deflation, Debt, Inflation, and Loss of Confidence:


1. Deflation

The COVID-19 pandemic is a deflationary shock of the highest order, where demand for almost everything has collapsed virtually overnight. As world gross domestic product (GDP) has fallen sharply, it seems that in the best of outcomes, this will be an average recession. Gluskin Sheffcalculates the average post WWll duration from the peak of the S&P 500to the trough of the subsequent recession has averaged 13.6 months, while the S&P 500 fell 29.0% on average. Therefore, if this is to be an average recession, it would not trough until April 2021. However, a myriad of factors make it easy to imagine a recession with deflationary pressures that lasts longer than average. Here are just a few of our concerns:

  • Most people in democracies have never experienced state-controlled lockdowns in which fellow citizens are looked upon with suspicion. Many are horrified by the 24/7 COVID-19 media coverage. As a result, once lock-downs are lifted, investment and consumptions patterns might become more cautious and conservative, at least until a vaccine is widely available and perhaps much longer. Meanwhile, a resurgent virus and more lockdowns are a possibility.
  • A Wall Street Journal survey found economists expect U.S. unemployment to be at 10% in December, which suggests a lingering deep recession.
  • The International Monetary Fund (IMF) figures global GDP will contract 3% this year, compared to a 0.1% contraction amid the global financial crisis. The IMF sees growth in 2021, but warns that risks of a worse outcome predominate as many countries face a multi-layered crisis comprising a health shock, economic disruptions, falling external demand, capital flow reversals, and a collapse in commodity prices.


2. Debt

Debt is always a problem in a deflation, while excessive debt can become a crisis. When it comes to debt, the elephant in the room is corporate debt, while the whale in the room is sovereign debt. Goldman Sachs forecasts the U.S. budget deficit will reach $3.6 trillion this fiscal year and $2.4 trillion in 2021. This is on top of $17.9 trillion of existing debt which is now trending to over 100% of GDP. At this point it is obvious to us that the government may never be able to pay back the money it owes. At zero interest rates, money is free of charge and sovereign debt keeps piling up. The Fed may never be able to raise rates for fear of a ruining rise in debt service costs. Anyone who owns a business or runs a household knows intuitively that this is not sustainable. Nonetheless, no one knows whether it can persist, end in failure, or whether government debt eventually gets pared down in a cycle of inflation.

According to Rosenberg Research, the volume of business debt has roughly doubled this cycle to over $10 trillion in the U.S. Many businesses are now taking on more debt to deal with the lockdown collapse in revenues through bond offerings, revolving credit lines, and new government lending programs. All corners of the private debt markets are under acute pressure:

  • As of April 24, S&P Global Ratings issued 125 corporate upgrades and 1,270 downgrades this year and figures the total for selective defaults could top the $340 billion level of the financial crisis.
  • Private pensions have nearly $1 trillion of corporate bonds in their portfolio, while some state and local pensions are effectively insolvent at this point.
  • According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, over 40% of the nation’s small businesses could close permanently in the next six months.
  • Bloomberg News reports home lenders bracing for up to 15 million mortgage defaults in the biggest wave of delinquencies in history.


3. Inflation

We believe the economy will be mired in deflationary pressure for the foreseeable future. The central banks have been trying unsuccessfully to generate wage and price inflation for years. Instead their policies have brought asset price inflation – bubbles in stocks, bonds, real estate, etc. However, if economic growth ever returns to historic norms, complacency towards inflation coupled with the massive pandemic stimulus could bring high levels of wage and price inflation along with asset bubbles.

The world is on a war-footing to fight the pandemic. Past wars have brought double-digit inflation in the U.S. The end of WWI also coincided with the Spanish Flu pandemic:

War End of War Peak Inflation/Year
WWI 1918 24% / 1920
WWII 1945 20% / 1947
Vietnam 1975 15% / 1980

The COVID-19 war might end with another cycle of unwanted inflation.


4. Loss of Confidence

The government took on unconventional fiscal and monetary policies after the Financial Crisis with trillion-dollar deficits, quantitative easing (QE), and zero interest rates. It tried to scale these extraordinary measures back during the expansion, but failed. Now with unlimited QE, rescue programs to all corners of the debt market, and multi-trillion dollar deficits, fiscal and monetary policies have transformed from unconventional to dangerous. We acknowledge that a massive response to the lockdowns has been necessary, but piling onto an edifice of record peace-time deficits and central bank balance sheets creates a very unstable financial system.

After WWll, the Bretton Woods Agreement created a global monetary order in which dollars were convertible to gold by foreign governments. The Bretton Woods system ended in 1971 as the U.S. was spending heavily on social programs and the Vietnam War. Some countries lost confidence in the U.S. dollar, demanding more gold that the U.S. was willing to provide. Thus, the gold window was closed and the current system of fiat currencies and floating exchange rates was adopted. The fiat currency system is now being trashed by rampant QE and government borrowing. We believe the Fed could be on the verge of issuing money directly to the Treasury to fund spending and debt payment. Call it monetization, helicopter money, or modern monetary theory, no financial system has survived such currency devaluation. If investors and foreigners lose confidence in the dollar-based system, it will be time for a new Bretton Woods, a new global monetary order. Gold would be the last currency standing.

Download Commentary PDF with Fund specific information and performance.

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IMPORTANT DISCLOSURES

All company, sector, and sub-industry weightings as of April 30, 2020 unless otherwise noted.

*Source: Company Reports. As of April 30, 2020, these positions represented approximately 3.1%, 9.0% and 8.7% of Fund net assets, respectively. This is not a recommendation to buy or sell any security. 

Nothing in this content should be considered a solicitation to buy or an offer to sell shares of any investment in any jurisdiction where the offer or solicitation would be unlawful under the securities laws of such jurisdiction, nor is it intended as investment, tax, financial, or legal advice. Investors should seek such professional advice for their particular situation and jurisdiction.

1NYSE Arca Gold Miners Index (GDMNTR) is a modified market capitalization-weighted index comprised of publicly traded companies involved primarily in the mining for gold.2Gluskin Sheff + Associates Inc., a Canadian independent wealth management firm, manages investment portfolios for high net worth investors, including entrepreneurs, professionals, family trusts, private charitable foundations, and estates).3S&P 500® is a capitalization-weighted index of 500 U.S. stocks from a broad range of industries.

Any indices listed are unmanaged indices and include the reinvestment of all dividends, but do not reflect the payment of transaction costs, advisory fees or expenses that are associated with an investment in a Fund. Certain indices may take into account withholding taxes. An index’s performance is not illustrative of a Fund’s performance. Indices are not securities in which investments can be made.

NYSE Arca Gold Miners Index is a service mark of ICE Data Indices, LLC or its affiliates (“ICE Data”) and has been licensed for use by VanEck Vectors ETF Trust (the “Trust”) in connection with VanEck Vectors Gold Miners ETF (the “Fund”). Neither the Trust nor the Fund is sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by ICE Data. ICE Data makes no representations or warranties regarding the Trust or the Fund or the ability of the NYSE Arca Gold Miners Index to track general stock market performance.

ICE DATA MAKES NO EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, AND HEREBY EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE WITH RESPECT TO THE NYSE ARCA GOLD MINERS INDEX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. IN NO EVENT SHALL ICE DATA HAVE ANY LIABILITY FOR ANY SPECIAL, PUNITIVE, INDIRECT, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING LOST PROFITS), EVEN IF NOTIFIED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

MVIS Global Junior Gold Miners Index (the “Index”) is the exclusive property of MarketVector Indexes GmbH (a wholly owned subsidiary of Van Eck Associates Corporation), which has contracted with Solactive AG to maintain and calculate the Index. Solactive AG uses its best efforts to ensure that the Index is calculated correctly. Irrespective of its obligations towards MarketVector Indexes GmbH, Solactive AG has no obligation to point out errors in the Index to third parties. The VanEck Vectors Junior Gold Miners ETF (the “Fund”) is not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by MarketVector Indexes GmbH and MarketVector Indexes GmbH makes no representation regarding the advisability of investing in the Fund.

The S&P 500® Index is a product of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC and/or its affiliates and has been licensed for use by Van Eck Associates Corporation. Copyright © 2018 S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC, a division of S&P Global, Inc., and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. Redistribution or reproduction in whole or in part are prohibited without written permission of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC. For more information on any of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC’s indices please visit www.spdji.com. S&P® is a registered trademark of S&P Global and Dow Jones® is a registered trademark of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC. Neither S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC, Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC, their affiliates nor their third party licensors make any representation or warranty, express or implied, as to the ability of any index to accurately represent the asset class or market sector that it purports to represent and neither S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC, Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC, their affiliates nor their third party licensors shall have any liability for any errors, omissions, or interruptions of any index or the data included therein.

Please note that the information herein represents the opinion of the author, but not necessarily those of VanEck, and this opinion may change at any time and from time to time. Non-VanEck proprietary information contained herein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but not guaranteed. Not intended to be a forecast of future events, a guarantee of future results or investment advice. Historical performance is not indicative of future results. Current data may differ from data quoted. Any graphs shown herein are for illustrative purposes only. No part of this material may be reproduced in any form, or referred to in any other publication, without express written permission of VanEck.

About VanEck International Investors Gold Fund: You can lose money by investing in the Fund. Any investment in the Fund should be part of an overall investment program, not a complete program. The Fund is subject to the risks associated with concentrating its assets in the gold industry, which can be significantly affected by international economic, monetary and political developments. The Fund’s overall portfolio may decline in value due to developments specific to the gold industry. The Fund’s investments in foreign securities involve risks related to adverse political and economic developments unique to a country or a region, currency fluctuations or controls, and the possibility of arbitrary action by foreign governments, or political, economic or social instability. The Fund is subject to risks associated with investments in Canadian issuers, commodities and commodity-linked derivatives, commodities and commodity-linked derivatives tax, gold-mining industry, derivatives, emerging market securities, foreign currency transactions, foreign securities, other investment companies, management, market, non-diversification, operational, regulatory, small- and medium-capitalization companies and subsidiary risks.

About VanEck Vectors® Gold Miners ETF (GDX®) and VanEck Vectors® Junior Gold Miners ETF (GDXJ®): An investment in the Funds may be subject to risks which include, among others, investing in gold and silver mining companies, Canadian issuers, foreign securities, foreign currency, depositary receipts, small- and medium-capitalization companies, equity securities, market, operational, index tracking, authorized participant concentration, no guarantee of active trading market, trading issues, passive management risk, fund shares trading, premium/discount risk and liquidity of fund shares, non-diversified and concentration risks, all of which may adversely affect the Funds. Foreign investments are subject to risks, which include changes in economic and political conditions, foreign currency fluctuations, changes in foreign regulations, and changes in currency exchange rates which may negatively impact the Funds’ return. Small- and medium-capitalization companies may be subject to elevated risks. The Funds’ assets may be concentrated in a particular sector and may be subject to more risk than investments in a diverse group of sectors.

Diversification does not assure a profit or protect against loss.

Please call 800.826.2333 or visit vaneck.com for performance information current to the most recent month end and for a free prospectus and summary prospectus. An investor should consider a Fund’s investment objective, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing. The prospectus and summary prospectus contain this as well as other information. Please read them carefully before investing.

©2020 VanEck

IMPORTANT DISCLOSURES

All company, sector, and sub-industry weightings as of April 30, 2020 unless otherwise noted.

*Source: Company Reports. As of April 30, 2020, these positions represented approximately 3.1%, 9.0% and 8.7% of Fund net assets, respectively. This is not a recommendation to buy or sell any security. 

Nothing in this content should be considered a solicitation to buy or an offer to sell shares of any investment in any jurisdiction where the offer or solicitation would be unlawful under the securities laws of such jurisdiction, nor is it intended as investment, tax, financial, or legal advice. Investors should seek such professional advice for their particular situation and jurisdiction.

1NYSE Arca Gold Miners Index (GDMNTR) is a modified market capitalization-weighted index comprised of publicly traded companies involved primarily in the mining for gold.2Gluskin Sheff + Associates Inc., a Canadian independent wealth management firm, manages investment portfolios for high net worth investors, including entrepreneurs, professionals, family trusts, private charitable foundations, and estates).3S&P 500® is a capitalization-weighted index of 500 U.S. stocks from a broad range of industries.

Any indices listed are unmanaged indices and include the reinvestment of all dividends, but do not reflect the payment of transaction costs, advisory fees or expenses that are associated with an investment in a Fund. Certain indices may take into account withholding taxes. An index’s performance is not illustrative of a Fund’s performance. Indices are not securities in which investments can be made.

NYSE Arca Gold Miners Index is a service mark of ICE Data Indices, LLC or its affiliates (“ICE Data”) and has been licensed for use by VanEck Vectors ETF Trust (the “Trust”) in connection with VanEck Vectors Gold Miners ETF (the “Fund”). Neither the Trust nor the Fund is sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by ICE Data. ICE Data makes no representations or warranties regarding the Trust or the Fund or the ability of the NYSE Arca Gold Miners Index to track general stock market performance.

ICE DATA MAKES NO EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, AND HEREBY EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE WITH RESPECT TO THE NYSE ARCA GOLD MINERS INDEX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. IN NO EVENT SHALL ICE DATA HAVE ANY LIABILITY FOR ANY SPECIAL, PUNITIVE, INDIRECT, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING LOST PROFITS), EVEN IF NOTIFIED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

MVIS Global Junior Gold Miners Index (the “Index”) is the exclusive property of MarketVector Indexes GmbH (a wholly owned subsidiary of Van Eck Associates Corporation), which has contracted with Solactive AG to maintain and calculate the Index. Solactive AG uses its best efforts to ensure that the Index is calculated correctly. Irrespective of its obligations towards MarketVector Indexes GmbH, Solactive AG has no obligation to point out errors in the Index to third parties. The VanEck Vectors Junior Gold Miners ETF (the “Fund”) is not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by MarketVector Indexes GmbH and MarketVector Indexes GmbH makes no representation regarding the advisability of investing in the Fund.

The S&P 500® Index is a product of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC and/or its affiliates and has been licensed for use by Van Eck Associates Corporation. Copyright © 2018 S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC, a division of S&P Global, Inc., and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. Redistribution or reproduction in whole or in part are prohibited without written permission of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC. For more information on any of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC’s indices please visit www.spdji.com. S&P® is a registered trademark of S&P Global and Dow Jones® is a registered trademark of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC. Neither S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC, Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC, their affiliates nor their third party licensors make any representation or warranty, express or implied, as to the ability of any index to accurately represent the asset class or market sector that it purports to represent and neither S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC, Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC, their affiliates nor their third party licensors shall have any liability for any errors, omissions, or interruptions of any index or the data included therein.

Please note that the information herein represents the opinion of the author, but not necessarily those of VanEck, and this opinion may change at any time and from time to time. Non-VanEck proprietary information contained herein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but not guaranteed. Not intended to be a forecast of future events, a guarantee of future results or investment advice. Historical performance is not indicative of future results. Current data may differ from data quoted. Any graphs shown herein are for illustrative purposes only. No part of this material may be reproduced in any form, or referred to in any other publication, without express written permission of VanEck.

About VanEck International Investors Gold Fund: You can lose money by investing in the Fund. Any investment in the Fund should be part of an overall investment program, not a complete program. The Fund is subject to the risks associated with concentrating its assets in the gold industry, which can be significantly affected by international economic, monetary and political developments. The Fund’s overall portfolio may decline in value due to developments specific to the gold industry. The Fund’s investments in foreign securities involve risks related to adverse political and economic developments unique to a country or a region, currency fluctuations or controls, and the possibility of arbitrary action by foreign governments, or political, economic or social instability. The Fund is subject to risks associated with investments in Canadian issuers, commodities and commodity-linked derivatives, commodities and commodity-linked derivatives tax, gold-mining industry, derivatives, emerging market securities, foreign currency transactions, foreign securities, other investment companies, management, market, non-diversification, operational, regulatory, small- and medium-capitalization companies and subsidiary risks.

About VanEck Vectors® Gold Miners ETF (GDX®) and VanEck Vectors® Junior Gold Miners ETF (GDXJ®): An investment in the Funds may be subject to risks which include, among others, investing in gold and silver mining companies, Canadian issuers, foreign securities, foreign currency, depositary receipts, small- and medium-capitalization companies, equity securities, market, operational, index tracking, authorized participant concentration, no guarantee of active trading market, trading issues, passive management risk, fund shares trading, premium/discount risk and liquidity of fund shares, non-diversified and concentration risks, all of which may adversely affect the Funds. Foreign investments are subject to risks, which include changes in economic and political conditions, foreign currency fluctuations, changes in foreign regulations, and changes in currency exchange rates which may negatively impact the Funds’ return. Small- and medium-capitalization companies may be subject to elevated risks. The Funds’ assets may be concentrated in a particular sector and may be subject to more risk than investments in a diverse group of sectors.

Diversification does not assure a profit or protect against loss.

Please call 800.826.2333 or visit vaneck.com for performance information current to the most recent month end and for a free prospectus and summary prospectus. An investor should consider a Fund’s investment objective, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing. The prospectus and summary prospectus contain this as well as other information. Please read them carefully before investing.

©2020 VanEck