Silver and Energy the New ETF Stars

Source: USA Today, Matt Krantz (4/6/11)

"While often overlooked, shares of midsize companies were big winners, and the trend is likely to continue."

There's no question what's driving the stellar run-ups of the best ETFs: silver and energy.

A vast majority of the top-performing exchange traded funds in the first quarter, 15 of the top 20, are all linked to silver, oil, gas or alternative energy such as solar. Such a concentration of winners is even more noteworthy as it came despite the best first quarter for the broad Standard & Poor's 500 since 1998.

"The first quarter was very lopsided with sector leadership," says Oliver Pursche, portfolio manager of the GMG Defensive Beta fund.

Dramatic global events, including the conflict in the Middle East with NATO airstrikes against Libya and the environmental and natural disasters in Japan, put silver and energy back on top of many investors' lists, he says. "Two events in March were where much of the rally came from," Pursche says. Investors' appetite got an added kicker from expectations of stronger global demand for commodities as well as the fear of higher inflation.

Midcaps Were Standouts.

While often overlooked, shares of midsize companies were big winners. The ProShares UltraPro MidCap 400 ETF, which moves triple the daily moves of the S&P Midcap 400, rose 27.9%. Many midsize companies, such as Salesforce.com, Netflix and Chipotle, may have pricey stocks but their businesses are in excellent positions and have rapid growth prospects, Dailey says.

Given the amount of stimulus governments have poured into their economies, the trend for precious metals and commodities could continue, says Robert Cohen of the Dynamic Gold and Precious Metals fund. But he's not quite as confident the big run in silver ETFs can last because the price of silver is pulling further ahead of gold than it historically can support.

Silver ETFs are being pushed up by "insane retail investors," Cohen says. "There's an extra bit of mania on silver."

Gold Explorer Highlights 2020 Achievements and Outlook
Source: Streetwise Reports (01/29/2021)

Magna Gold Corp.'s CEO Arturo Bonillas issued a letter to shareholders outlining the firm's business and financial accomplishments in 2020 and its strategy and outlook for 2021.

Explorer Completes Phase 2 Metallurgical Work for Palladium-Copper Project
Source: Streetwise Reports (01/28/2021)

Generation Mining intends to wrap up the feasibility study on Marathon this quarter.

Silver Firm Reports Q4/20 Processing, Production Numbers from Mexico Project
Source: Streetwise Reports (01/28/2021)

MAG Silver's joint venture project Juanicipio produced 230,000 ounces of silver during the quarter ended Dec. 31, 2020.

Explorer Reports High-Grade Gold-Silver Intercepts at BC Golden Triangle Property
Source: Streetwise Reports (01/27/2021)

Scottie Resources Corp. advises that the target remains open in most directions.

Golden Arrow Resources Out Exploring Again After COVID-19; Hits High-Grade Gold at Tierra Dorada in Paraguay
Source: The Critical Investor for Streetwise Reports (01/27/2021)

The Critical Investor explains why he believes "investors have an interesting opportunity to invest in a pretty derisked, undervalued and experienced explorer with three chances for success."

Junior Mining Sector 'the Best Value in the Space'
Source: Streetwise Reports (01/27/2021)

The StreetSmart Live! Broadcast on Jan. 26, 2021, focused on metals and why now is a good time for investors to be looking at them and the mining space. John Newell, independent analyst and portfolio manager, and John Feneck, mining sector expert and president of Feneck Consulting, addressed the status of the current metals market. CEOs of the three metals-focused companies comprising the Metallic Group of Companies—Group Ten Metals, Metallic Minerals and Granite Creek Copper—discussed their projects.

Shenanigans Abound: Gold, Silver and Cryptocurrency
Source: Michael Ballanger for Streetwise Reports (01/26/2021)

Sector expert Michael Ballanger explores the generational trends currently shaping investment markets, including the precious metals.

MMT Survey Helps Explorer Identify New Large Target at Ecuador Property
Source: Streetwise Reports (01/26/2021)

Aurania Resources reported that data from an ongoing Mobile MT Survey identified an extensive target at Tsenken at its Lost Cities - Cutucu Project in southeastern Ecuador.