Blackrock World Mining Trust plc (LON:BRWM) has announced its latest portfolio update.
All information is at 31 January 2023 and unaudited.
For more information on the Blackrock World Mining Trust and how to access the opportunities presented by mining, please visit www.blackrock.com/uk/brwm
Performance at month end with net income reinvested
| Performance at month end with net income reinvested | |||||
| One | Three | One | Three | Five | |
| Month | Months | Year | Years | Years | |
| Net asset value | 10.0% | 25.7% | 28.4% | 117.8% | 117.2% |
| Share price | 8.0% | 24.6% | 27.3% | 151.7% | 150.2% |
| MSCI ACWI Metals & Mining 30% Buffer 10/40 Index (Net)* | 9.8% | 26.2% | 22.5% | 80.8% | 72.0% |
* (Total return)
Sources: BlackRock, MSCI ACWI Metals & Mining 30% Buffer 10/40 Index, Datastream
At month end
| Net asset value (including income)1: | 756.74p |
| Net asset value (capital only): | 731.96p |
| 1 Includes net revenue of 24.78p | |
| Share price: | 753.00p |
| Discount to NAV2: | 0.5% |
| Total assets: | £1,584.6m |
| Net yield3: | 5.8% |
| Net gearing: | 9.9% |
| Ordinary shares in issue: | 188,903,036 |
| Ordinary shares held in Treasury: | 4,108,806 |
| Ongoing charges4: | 0.9% |
| Ongoing charges5: | 0.8% |
2 Discount to NAV including income.
3 Based on a final dividend of 27.00p per share declared on 8 March 2022 in respect of the year ended 31 December 2021, and a first, second and third interim dividend of 5.50p per share declared on 6 May 2022, 23 August 2022 and 16 November 2022 respectively, in respect of year ended 31 December 2022.
4 The Company’s ongoing charges are calculated as a percentage of average daily net assets and using the management fee and all other operating expenses, excluding finance costs, direct transaction costs, custody transaction charges, VAT recovered, taxation and certain other non-recurring items for the year ended 31 December 2021.
5 The Company’s ongoing charges are calculated as a percentage of average daily gross assets and using the management fee and all other operating expenses, excluding finance costs, direct transaction costs, custody transaction charges, VAT recovered, taxation and certain other non-recurring items for the year ended 31 December 2021.
Commenting on the markets, Evy Hambro and Olivia Markham, representing the Investment Manager noted:
Performance
The Company’s NAV rose by 10.0% in January, outperforming its reference index, the MSCI ACWI Metals and Mining 30% Buffer 10/40 Index (net return), which returned +9.8% (performance figures in GBP).
The mining sector performed strongly during the month, with the Company’s reference index recording its best start to a year since 2017 as China continued to re-open its economy. The sector also outperformed broader equity markets, with the MSCI ACWI TR Index returning +7.2%. Mined commodity prices were up almost across the board, supported by the impressive pace of China’s reopening and expectations for a pickup in demand.
We saw downgrades to supply in the release of quarterly production results during the month, which with inventories at record lows, highlights continued supply constraints. Civil unrest in Peru created further risks to commodity supply, significantly impacting the tin and copper markets. Iron ore (62% fe.) and copper prices were up +9.8% and +10.0% respectively over the month. Meanwhile, the gold price was up +6.2%, aided by a weakening US dollar. There was also record central bank purchases of gold during the month. Warmer-than-expected weather caused weakness in natural gas prices, which put pressure on thermal coal prices, particularly in Europe.
Strategy and Outlook
We do not expect the mining sector to be immune to deteriorating global economic growth. However, whilst recession looms for developed markets, the most important economy for mining, China, is moving in the opposite direction, re-opening following a year of lockdowns and a strict zero-Covid policy.
Meanwhile, mined commodity markets are generally tight, with inventories for many commodities at historic lows. At the same time, mined supply is being constrained by the underinvestment of recent years and continued capital discipline. Mining companies are in an excellent financial position, in our view, with high levels of free cash flow, rock-solid balance sheets and a continued focus on returning capital to shareholders.
Last year, we saw greater appreciation of the role mining companies will need to play in supplying the materials required for lower carbon technologies like wind turbines, solar panels and electric vehicles. In 2023, we expect Brown to Green to emerge as a key theme, where mining companies focus on reducing the greenhouse gas emissions intensity associated with their production. We expect to see a re-rating for the mining companies able to best navigate this and are playing this in the portfolio.
All data points are in USD terms unless stated otherwise.
For more information on the Blackrock World Mining Trust and how to access the opportunities presented by mining, please visit www.blackrock.com/uk/brwm
