10-QPeriod: Q2 FY2005

ISHARES GOLD TRUST Quarterly Report for Q2 Ended Jun 30, 2005

Filed August 9, 2005For Securities:IAU

Summary

The iShares Gold Trust (IAU) 10-Q filing for the period ending June 30, 2005, reveals the Trust's establishment and early operational performance. Launched on January 21, 2005, the Trust's primary objective is to mirror the price of gold bullion, less expenses. As of June 30, 2005, the Trust held $169.014 million in gold bullion, with a fair value of $174.053 million, representing a significant increase from its inception value of $6.401 million. The Trust experienced substantial share redemptions during the quarter, with 3 million shares redeemed, leading to a decrease in net assets from approximately $300 million to $174 million. Despite this, the net asset value per share saw a slight increase, tracking the movement in the COMEX gold price. The Trust reported a net income of $11,498 for the quarter, primarily driven by realized gains on gold distributions for share redemptions, offset by sponsor's fees. Investors should note the inherent concentration risk in gold bullion holdings and the fee structure associated with the Trust.

Key Highlights

  • 1The iShares Gold Trust (IAU) was established on January 21, 2005, with the primary goal of tracking the price of gold bullion.
  • 2As of June 30, 2005, the Trust held $169.014 million in gold bullion, significantly up from its inception value.
  • 3The Trust experienced a substantial decrease in outstanding shares during the quarter due to redemptions, impacting total net assets.
  • 4Net income for the three months ended June 30, 2005, was $11,498, largely influenced by gains from gold redemptions and sponsor fees.
  • 5The net asset value per share closely followed the COMEX spot settlement price of gold, with a slight dilution due to sponsor fees.
  • 6The Trust's assets are primarily composed of gold bullion, creating a direct concentration risk tied to gold price fluctuations.
  • 7Shares are issued and redeemed in large aggregations (50,000 shares) exclusively through Authorized Participants, not individual investors.

Frequently Asked Questions

The primary investment objective of the iShares Gold Trust is for the value of its shares to reflect, at any given time, the price of gold bullion owned by the Trust, less the Trust's expenses and liabilities.

Shares of IAU are created and redeemed by Authorized Participants in large aggregations (50,000 shares or integral multiples thereof) in exchange for physical gold bullion, not cash. Individual investors cannot directly create or redeem shares with the Trust.

The main recurring expense for the Trust is the Sponsor's fee, which accrues daily at an annualized rate of 0.40% of the adjusted daily net asset value. The Sponsor also assumes other administrative and marketing expenses, such as trustee fees and listing fees.

The main risk is concentration risk, as substantially all of the Trust's assets are holdings of gold bullion. Therefore, a decline in the price of gold will adversely affect the value of the shares of the Trust.