Weekly ETF Returns: Mining ETFs Surge
SAN FRANCISCO (Aug 18) Precious metals ETFs regained their shine this week on the strength of an uptick in gold and silver prices.
The S&P 500 jumped 36.16 points, or less than 1 percent, during that same five-day period, closing at 1,661.32.
The PureFunds ISE Junior Silver (Small Cap Miners/Explorers) (NYSEArca: SILJ), the Global X Silver Miners (NYSEArca: SIL) and the Market Vectors Junior Gold Miners (NYSEArca: GDXJ) gained 27.3 percent, 25.8 percent and 25.3 percent, respectively, last week.
Gold bullion prices rose more than 4 percent for the week and have been steadily rising, hitting $1,367 an ounce on Friday. Outperforming gold, though, was silver, which soared nearly 14 percent, according to HardAssetsInvestor.com.
On the other end of the spectrum, iShares U.S. Home Construction (NYSEArca: ITB) dropped 2.71 percent on fears of rising interest rates from jittery investors.
Top 10 Weekly Performers, Excluding Leverage/Inverse Funds and <1,000 Shares Traded
| Ticker | Name | Weekly Performance | Weekly Volume | AUM ($, mm) |
| SILJ | PureFunds ISE Junior Silver (Small Cap Miners/Explorers) | 27.29% | 9,655 | 1.99 |
| SIL | Global X Silver Miners | 25.83% | 2,038,454 | 256.89 |
| GDXJ | Market Vectors Junior Gold Miners | 25.30% | 8,543,190 | 1,670.35 |
| GLDX | Global X Gold Explorers | 22.38% | 359,247 | 35.88 |
| SLVP | iShares MSCI Global Silver Miners | 21.65% | 130,481 | 7.30 |
| GGGG | Global X PURE Gold Miners | 19.85% | 20,667 | 3.98 |
| GDX | Market Vectors Gold Miners | 19.53% | 252,196,255 | 7,385.67 |
| RING | iShares MSCI Global Gold Miners | 17.81% | 362,099 | 39.50 |
| PSAU | PowerShares Global Gold and Precious Metals | 17.28% | 70,232 | 21.74 |
| JUNR | Global X Junior Miners ETF | 17.10% | 17,019 | 5.26 |
