Global Commodity ETP Quarterly Q3 2014 The report includes:
A comprehensive and fully up-to-date reference guide to investing in global commodity ETPs and indexes – no ETP type or geographic area is excluded. The report details the large and growing choice of commodity ETP exposures and strategies around the world.
Summary analysis of global commodity ETP flows, trading volumes and AUM trends. Includes a detailed analysis of the main trends in Q3 2014 and the outlook for the rest of the year.
Roll yield analysis (contango/backwardation) broken down by individual commodity and commodity sectors.
Useful fundamental commodity data and information. An updated and revised inventory trends section, positioning data, futures curve developments, commodity index compositions and weights.
Throughout the Global Commodity ETP Quarterly, commodity ETPs have been grouped into six main sectors as detailed below:
Diversified Broad contains Diversified Broad, Diversified Broad ex Agriculture and Livestock, Diversified Broad Light Energy and Diversified Broad ex Energy basket commodity ETPs
Energy contains Diversified Energy basket, Biofuels, Carbon, Coal, Crude Oil, Electricity, Gasoline, Heating Oil, Natural Gas and Petroleum commodity ETPs
Livestock contains Diversified Livestock basket, Feeder Cattle, Lean Hogs and Live Cattle commodity ETPs
Precious Metals contains Diversified Precious Metals basket, Gold, Palladium, Platinum, Rhodium and Silver commodity ETPs Exchange Traded Products (ETPs) is the umbrella term covering Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs), Exchange Traded Commodities (ETCs), Exchange Traded Notes (ETNs), US Limited Partnerships (LPs), US Guarantor and other statutory trusts. Commodity ETPs are open-ended securities listed on a stock exchange tracking an underlying commodity asset. They do not include ETPs tracking the listed equities of companies involved in commodity businesses.
If not otherwise stated, all data in the publication is in US dollars.
Commodity ETP Flows Resilient in the Face of Price Declines
Commodity ETPs were hit hard in Q3 2014 as a strong US dollar and concerns about China and Europé growth knocked many commodity prices down towards their production costs.
Following two consecutive quarters of increases, commodity ETP assets under management (AUM) fell by US$12.6bn to US$110.7bn, the lowest level since Q1 2010. However, close to 96% of the AUM decline was caused by price declines, with net investor outflows during the quarter a relatively resilient US$550mn.
The resilience of investor flows likely reflects a number of factors. The first is that most of the large, leveraged tactical players in commodity ETPs cleared their positions in 2013, as reflected in the large outflows that year. The bulk of investors in commodity ETPs today tend to be strategic investors with medium to long-term time horizons who tend to be less sensitive to short term price swings.
A second key factor is that with most commodities now trading near (and in some cases below) their estimated all-in or marginal costs of production, many investors with long-term investment horizons are looking at current prices as attractive accumulation levels on the view on-going production cuts and a steady structural rise in demand from increasingly wealthy large population developing countries will ultimately push prices higher.
Lastly, a large part of the commodity price declines over the past month or so has been driven by the strong rally in the US dollar and concerns about slower growth in China and Europe. US dollar strength is being driven by healthy US economic growth – a positive for commodity demand. Meanwhile, policy-makers in both China and Europe have started – and are expected to continue – to react strongly to recent signs of economic weakness.
Given the above potential positive price catalysts and the fact that many commodities are trading at their lowest levels relative to their production costs since the crisis of 2008, there are some signs tactical investors are beginning to nibble – particularly with valuations across a number of major equity and most fixed income markets looking stretched. Over the course of Q3, broad commodity index ETPs saw inflows as well as some of the more bombed out individual commodities and sectors such as agriculture, select industrial metals and natural gas.
Key Trends
Gold ETPs accounted for nearly 60% of the decline in global commodity ETPAUM, with AUM dropping by US$7.4bn to US$69bn. Of the AUM decline, 82% was due to the gold price decline over the quarter. While investors sold into the price decline, selling was far more muted than during the price declines of 2013, indicating most tactical investors have already exited.
After gold, platinum and palladium saw the largest outflows in Q3, with US$194mn and US$74mn of outflows respectively. Silver ETPs saw the largest inflows in Q3, with US$452mn of net new investor flows despite (or perhaps because of) the sharp price decline. Many investors appear to view the silver price below US$20/oz as a good long-term accumulation level.
Agriculture ETPs also saw inflows during the quarter as low prices brought investors into most of the grains as well as cotton.
Broad commodity index tracking commodity ETPs saw inflows of US$561mn in Q3 2014, indicating strategic investors are starting to view commodities as a more attractive asset class as equity and bond market valuations have become more stretched and commodity prices have declined.
Oil ETPs saw strong inflows in August as prices lurched lower, however in September these flows reversed as it appears some investors capitulated in the face of continued price declines. For the quarter as a whole oil ETPs saw US$83mn of outflows. Meanwhile as the natural gas fell from its heights investors started to nibble, with US$21 of inflows
Industrial metal ETPs saw mixed flows, with the net result a very modest US$29mn of inflows into the sector. While copper ETPs saw US$29mn of outflows, aluminium, nickel and industrial metal basket ETPs all saw inflows.
Summary and Outlook
Assuming the US maintains its current economic trajectory, the key to commodity performance and flows through the rest of 2014 and into 2015 will be how successful both Europe and China are in restimulating their economies. Stronger economic growth in both of these major markets would not only help boost commodity demand and improve general sentiment, but also likely take some of the steam out of the very strong recent US dollar rally (which has been as much about weakness abroad as strength at home) that has been weighing on commodity performance. Increasingly aggressive easing moves by ECB President Mario Draghi and policy-makers in China in the coming months and quarters could be the stimulus commodity markets have been waiting for.
Important Information
This communication has been provided by ETF Securities (UK) Limited (”ETFS UK”) which is authorised and regulated by the United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority. When being made within Italy, this communication is for the exclusive use of the ”qualified investors” and its circulation among the public is prohibited.
Please find below Hashdex monthly crypto market update and performance attribution for Hashdex Crypto-Index ETPs for October 2024.
With October often showing strong seasonality for crypto assets, this month’s results reflect a promising trend for Bitcoin, although gains were more limited across Altcoins. As outlined in our latest CIO note, “Beyond Trump and Harris: Five Congressional Races That May Impact Crypto’s Future”, several upcoming US congressional races could shape the regulatory landscape for crypto, with potential implications for institutional adoption and future price action. Bipartisan support for the asset class is expected to grow, depending on the results of key races.
We will share some updates during the week, if you need any inputs on US elections, feel free to reach out to us.
Hashdex Crypto Index ETPs: performances (USD) as of end of October 24
• Beta Index ETP– Nasdaq Crypto Index ETP (HASH or HDX1) (largest Crypto Index ETP in Europe): October +7.1%, YTD +45%, 12M +89%.
• Smart-Beta Index ETP – Crypto Momentum Index ETP(HAMO or HDXM): October -0.5%, YTD +1.2%, 12M +71%.
Market Update – October 24
October, commonly known as ”Uptober” for its seasonally strong performance for Bitcoin, continued this trend in 2024. The month began with a volatile period, as the Nasdaq Crypto Index (NCI) initially gave back gains from September. All NCI constituents declined in the first ten days, with the exception of Uniswap, which announced plans for its own layer-two network on Ethereum.
Mid-month, the sentiment shifted, with a sharp rally that drove Bitcoin close to its all-time high by the 29th. The NCI ultimately closed the month up 7.1%, significantly outpacing traditional markets as both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 declined slightly. This rally coincided with a sharp increase in former president Donald Trump’s odds in election betting markets, generating additional optimism around Bitcoin.
While Bitcoin posted a robust 10.6% gain, Altcoins generally underperformed. The notable positive exception among altcoins was Solana, which rose 9.0%. In contrast, Ripple declined 18.6% due to ongoing SEC litigation, and Polygon’s MATIC dropped over 20% as it migrated to a new token model (POL).
Nasdaq Crypto Index (NCI) relative to other asset class in October 24
Source: Hashdex, as of 30/10/24.
In comparison with traditional assets, the NCI’s 7.1% gain far outpaced the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100, both of which posted slight declines. This performance underscores the potential for crypto assets to provide upside during periods of broader market uncertainty. The majority of this outperformance was driven by Bitcoin’s strength, underscoring its role as a cornerstone of the crypto asset class and its growing appeal as a macroeconomic hedge.
Performance attribution:
Nasdaq Crypto Index (NCI)
The NCI recorded positive returns for most of its primary constituents, with Bitcoin (+10.6%) leading the gains. Solana (SOL) also contributed positively, rising 9.0%. However, Ripple (XRP) and Polygon’s MATIC weighed on the index, with losses of 18.6% and over 20%, respectively. Ripple’s decline was largely attributed to ongoing legal issues with the SEC, while MATIC’s transition to the POL token created additional downward pressure.
Source: Hashdex, as of 31/10/24.
Crypto Momentum Factor Index
The Crypto Momentum Factor Index showed a slight monthly decline of 0.5% in October, reflecting the underperformance of altcoins in general. Although Tron (TRX) remained relatively stable, other altcoins in the index faced headwinds, leading to a small monthly loss for the index.
Source: Hashdex, as of 31/10/24.
Correlation (3m) to traditional asset classes
Source: Hashdex, as of 31/10/24. NCI for Nasdaq Crypto Index.
Goldman Sachs Global Green Bond UCITSETF EUR (Dist) (GSGR ETF) med ISIN IE000SYQFJV2strävar efter att spåra Solactive Global Green Bond Select-index. Solactive Global Green Bond Select-index följer gröna obligationer. Alla löptider ingår. Betyg: Investment Grade.
Den börshandlade fondens TER (total cost ratio) uppgår till 0,22 % p.a. Goldman Sachs Global Green Bond UCITSETF EUR (Dist) är den enda ETF som följer Solactive Global Green Bond Select-indexet. ETFen replikerar det underliggande indexets prestanda genom fullständig replikering (köper alla indexbeståndsdelar). Ränteintäkterna (kuponger) i ETFen delas ut till investerarna (halvårsvis).
Denna ETF lanserades den 13 februari 2024 och har sin hemvist i Irland.
Mål
Goldman Sachs Global Green Bond UCITSETF är en passivt förvaltad, hållbar global obligationsfond som uteslutande investerar i gröna obligationer enligt bedömningen av Goldman Sachs Asset Managements investeringsteam för gröna obligationer.
Crypto markets faced a volatile week as key macroeconomic events approached, with the upcoming US presidential election and anticipated Fed rate decision fueling uncertainty in risk assets. Bitcoin (BTC) rose 1.7%, ether (ETH) declined 1%, Solana (SOL) fell 8.2%, and the Nasdaq Crypto IndexTM (NCITM) was down 0.5%.
Microsoft to consider bitcoin investment starting December
According to a new SEC filing, Microsoft is considering the possibility of investing in Bitcoin as a hedge strategy against inflation despite opposition from its Board of Directors. This move, by one of the world’s largest companies, would mark a significant step in institutional adoption for Bitcoin.
MicroStrategy discloses plans to buy $42B of BTC
The firm announced bold plans to raise $42 billion over the next three years to acquire more bitcoin. This new wave of capital will be split equally, with $21 billion from equity issuance and $21 billion from debt offerings, in a project called the ”21/21” plan. This move, led by founder Michael Saylor, underscores bitcoin’s potential as a valuable hedge against inflation and highlights its appeal as a strategic investment option.
UBS launches its first tokenized fund on Ethereum
UBS Asset Management has launched its first tokenized fund, the USD Money Market Investment Fund Token (uMINT), a money market fund built on the Ethereum blockchain, available through authorized partners. The launch supports the growing demand for tokenized financial assets and leverages distributed technology to enhance fund issuance and distribution, as well as UBS’s broader strategy to expand its tokenization services.