fwp
Filed Pursuant To Rule 433
Registration No. 333-167132
November 3, 2011
The Case for Gold:
A Strategic Asset
For thousands of years, gold has been one of the worlds most valuable metals, used as both a
form of currency and an investment. More recently, the potential value of gold as an investment
option has been underscored by a continuing string of record prices for gold over the past few
years and the greater accessibility of the gold market to a broader range of investors via exchange
traded funds (ETFs), like SPDR® Gold Shares [GLD]. This article provides an overview of
the unique characteristics of gold and the value it may bring as a potentially beneficial
diversifier and mitigator of risk and volatility in investment portfolios.
HISTORY OF GOLD
The history of gold is as old as time itself. From
references to gold in the Bible to the Greek myths of
Jason and King Midas, gold has long been a symbol of
wealth, freedom and power. Empires and nationsfrom
Charlemagne to the Spanish conquest of the New World and
on through to the American frontier movementall were
mobilized by the pursuit of gold or built upon its
promise.
Though its first use appears to have been for
ornamentation, sculpture and jewelry, gold has been
employed most prominently through the ages as a store of
financial valueor as a form of currency. From Ancient
Egypt to modern day Britain, gold became the standard
medium of exchange for trade and was the standard measure
upon which monetary systems were based.
THE GOLD STANDARD
Over time, as various forms of currency and paper
monies emerged, most major economies adopted the gold
standard, which fixed the value of their currencies to a
specified amount of gold. In its most formal sense, the
gold standard was a financial system established with the
aim of promoting global trade and controlling inflation.
It dictated that a nation could not issue currency in
excess of the amount of gold it held in reserve. Great
Britain was the first to officially adopt the standard in
1821. The rest of Europe followed in the 1870s and the
system remained intact until the end of World War I. After
the war, most countries began to build reserves of major
currencies independent of their gold reserves. The US was
the only world power that maintained the gold standard.
Although there was no longer a direct link between a
nations gold holdings and its national monetary supplies,
gold was still the primary reserve asset. In 1944, the
Bretton Woods System was established as the new
international monetery system, and the dollar emerged as
the worlds dominant currency standard. Central banks kept
gold in order to exchange it for dollars at the official
fixed price, which helped to protect these nations from
fluctuations in currencies that were no longer tied to the
gold standard.
Gradually, however, central banks created more money than
was consistent with stable prices and the fixed official
gold price became unrealistic. In 1971, the US abandoned
the system and the dollars held by foreign central banks
could no longer be converted to gold, taking the US off
the gold standard altogether. Since that time, the price
of gold fluctuates in response to supply and demand.
HOW GOLD IS USED TODAY
Golds chemical and physical properties make it
valuable in a wide array of everyday applications. Jewelry
accounts for 60%-70% of the annual consumption of gold
today. Another 10%-15% of gold demand is generated by
industrial applications ranging from the manufacturing of
semiconductors and heating and cooling systems to
dentistry. The remaining goldbetween 15%-30%is held for
investment purposes by individuals, institutions, and
central banks.1 And the demand for
investment-grade gold is increasing.
WHAT DRIVES GOLD PRICES?
Ever since the gold standard was abandoned, gold
prices have been driven by supply and demand. Since it was
first mined more than 5,000 years ago, the total production
of gold ever put into use is a little over 166,000
tonnes.2 Most of this gold is still in existence
today, and were it all gathered together it would fit into
3.5 Olympic sized swimming pools.3
INCREASING DEMAND
Jewelry represents the largest area of consumption
for gold. However, since 2007, its share of the demand pool
has been gradually declining. Much of this decline may stem
from a weakening market for jewelry in the US and other
developed countries as lingering high unemployment and
economic uncertainty in the wake of the Great Recession
continue to take their toll on retail sales. As a result,
the center of jewelry demand has shifted to China, India
and the Middle East, where continued economic prosperity
and rising standards of living among its growing middle
classes are increasing demand for gold jewelry for
celebrations and as a sign of personal wealth.
While consumption for industrial gold has slowly risen
over the past decade driven by usage in consumer
elelctronics, the largest increase in demand during this
same period is for investable gold, with overall
consumption quadrupling since 2001, driven mainly by
increased sales of gold bars and the skyrocketing
popularity of gold ETFs and related products (see Figure
1).
While growing demand had gradually moved gold prices up
over the past ten years, prices began to rise rapidly
starting in 2007. In that year, the first warning signs of
the recession coupled with concerns over inflation, began
to generate a wave of demand for gold beginning in
September. This demand, aided by a 3% drop in mining
production, helped push prices sharply higher before
dropping through most of 2008 as fears of inflation largely
subsided.
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1 |
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Thomas Reuters GFMS, Gold Survey 2011. |
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2 |
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Thomson Reuters GFMS estimates that by the end of 2010 there were 166,000 tonnes of gold on above ground stocks. Taking into account that one tonne equals 1,000 kg and
that the density of gold is 19.32 kg/l, the total volume of the above ground stocks is equivalent to 8.6 million liters. An official Olympic pool (L: 50m, W: 25m, D: 2m) can hold up
to 2.5 million liters. In turn, the available gold above ground would fill approximately 3.5 Olympic pools.
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3 |
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World Gold Council, August 2011 [from
http://www.gold.org/about_gold/story_of_gold/demand_and_supply/]. |
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Precise in a world that isnt.SM
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1
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FIGURE 1: END-USE GOLD CONSUMPTION (TONNES) |
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2001 |
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2002 |
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2003 |
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2004 |
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2005 |
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2006 |
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2007 |
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2008 |
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2009 |
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2010 |
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JEWELERY CONSUMPTION |
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3,009 |
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2,662 |
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2,484 |
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2,616 |
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2,719 |
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2,300 |
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2,423 |
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2,304 |
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1,814 |
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2,017 |
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INDUSTRIAL & DENTAL |
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363 |
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358 |
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386 |
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419 |
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438 |
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468 |
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476 |
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461 |
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410 |
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466 |
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ELECTRONICS |
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197 |
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206 |
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237 |
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266 |
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286 |
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316 |
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322 |
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311 |
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275 |
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327 |
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OTHER INDUSTRIAL &
DECORATIVE |
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97 |
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83 |
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82 |
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85 |
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90 |
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92 |
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96 |
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95 |
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82 |
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91 |
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DENTISTRY |
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69 |
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69 |
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67 |
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68 |
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62 |
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61 |
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58 |
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56 |
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53 |
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49 |
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IDENTIFIABLE INVESTMENT |
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370 |
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366 |
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354 |
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499 |
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614 |
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685 |
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700 |
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1,223 |
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1,435 |
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1,514 |
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PHYSICAL BAR INVESTMENT |
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259 |
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240 |
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183 |
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222 |
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258 |
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237 |
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244 |
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645 |
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531 |
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880 |
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OFFICIAL COINS |
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83 |
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97 |
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107 |
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115 |
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111 |
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129 |
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135 |
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187 |
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229 |
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207 |
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MEDALS & IMITATION COINS |
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29 |
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26 |
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26 |
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29 |
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37 |
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59 |
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68 |
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70 |
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59 |
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88 |
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INVESTMENT
IN EXCHANGED TRADED FUNDS AND RELATED PRODUCTS* |
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3 |
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39 |
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133 |
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208 |
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260 |
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253 |
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321 |
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617 |
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338 |
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TOTAL |
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3,742 |
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3,386 |
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3,224 |
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3,534 |
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3,770 |
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3,453 |
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3,599 |
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3,989 |
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3,659 |
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3,997 |
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Source: Thomas Reuters GFMS, Gold Survey 2011.
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* |
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Including: Gold Bullion Securities (both traded at LSE and ASX), SPDR Gold Shares, NewGold Gold
Debentures, Central Fund of Canada and Central Gold Trust, iShares Comex Gold Trust,
XKB Gold, Goldist, ETFS Physical Gold, Xetra-Gold, Julius Baer Physical GOld Fund, Glaymore GOld
Bullion ETF, Swiss Gold Bullion ETF, Swiss Gold, ETFS (both trated in Tokyo and New
York), Sprott Physical Gold Trust, Dubai Gold Securities, ETFS Physical Precious Metals Basket
Shares (GLTR) and Mitsubishi Physical Gold ETF. |
The financial crisis of late 2008 and the onset of
the Great Recession initially led to a sharp decline in
gold prices, as frightened investors pulled their money out
of market-driven investments and converted to cash, and
consumption in jewelry and technology dropped due to a
decrease in consumer spending. However, once it became
clear that the US banking system was not going to collapse,
investors returned to gold as the value of the US dollar
fell, and gold consumption in jewelry and technology began
to rise again in 2010. Since that time, gold prices have
continued to rise as demand for investable gold, aided in
part by the growing popularity and accessibility of
cost-efficient investment options such as ETFs. In 2011,
gold prices reached record highs aided by concerns over
lingering weakness in the US economy and increasing
skepticism that the political establishment in the US and
Europe were either able or willing to solve their debt
crises.
TIGHTENING SUPPLY
Although it can be found on nearly every continent
in the world, gold is a relatively scarce mineral that is
often expensive and difficult to extract. Five tons of ore
are required to yield one ounce of gold, and this process
requires significant outlays in manpower, energy and
material costs.
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2
Mining production had been slowly decreasing through
the first years of the 21st century, but began to increase
in 2008 as overall demand for gold began to increase,
particularly as central banks transitioned from sellers to
purchasers of gold, however, mining production remains
close to 2001 levels. Over the past few years, recycled
gold has played an increasing role in meeting the growing
demand for this most precious of metals.4
THE STRATEGIC CASE FOR GOLD
While rising gold prices have enhanced its
attractiveness over the past few years, this precious
metal has far more to offer than its recent track record
of impressive returns. Many investors have understood and
benefited from the important strategic role gold has
played as a potential means of mitigating volatility and
reducing systemic risk within a portfolio, and for the
benefits it has delivered as a hedge against inflation and
currency devaluation.
GOLDS POTENTIAL TO LOWER RISK
Over the past decade, the stock market has gone
through several periods of dramatic price swings. Over
this same period, gold prices largely exhibited lower
volatility, as measured by the annualized standard
deviation of daily returns, than traditional asset
classes and even other commodities.
Since the market meltdown and financial crisis of 2008,
volatility has become the new norm, with the markets
generating huge gains and losses on what often seems a
daily basis. During the past two years, the steady rise in
gold prices reduced this volatility even more, making an
allocation in gold a potentially effective strategy for
reducing the overall volatility of an investment
portfolio, although there is no guarantee that gold will
continue to serve as a volatility defender.
FIGURE 4: PERFORMANCE OF VARIOUS COMMODITIES AND
COMMODITY INDICES (JULY 2, 2001 JUNE 30, 2011)
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10-YEAR |
DESCRIPTION |
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VOLATILITY* |
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RETURN |
LONDON GOLD PM FIX (US$/OZ)
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18.74 |
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18.82 |
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PLATINUM, NYMEX (US$/OZ)
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24.50 |
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11.83 |
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COPPER LME (US$/T)
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30.12 |
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19.62 |
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DOW JONES-UBS GRAINS SUBINDEX
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25.07 |
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4.14 |
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DOW JONES-UBS COMMODITY INDEX
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18.56 |
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6.62 |
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S&P GSCI® TOTAL RETURN
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26.52 |
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3.69 |
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DOW JONES-UBS ENERGY SUBINDEX
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33.55 |
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-2.30 |
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BRENT CRUDE OIL (US$/BBL)
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36.09 |
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18.48 |
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LONDON SILVER FIXING (US$/OZ)
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34.99 |
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23.36 |
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* |
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Volatility is the annualized standard deviation of daily returns for the period.
Source: Barclays Capital, JP Morgan, S&P, MSCI, FactSet, SSgA Global ETF Strategy & Research, as of 6/30/2011. |
GOLD AS A PORTFOLIO DIVERSIFIER
Although the aim of diversification is to hold a
wide array of assets that behave differently from one
another under various market conditions, data has
suggested that equity markets tend to become more closely
correlated during periods of market turbulence.
Gold prices historically have not moved in lockstep with
those of traditional asset classes, nor have they
correlated strongly with most commodities other than
precious metals like silver. Adding a separate standalone
allocation to gold may help to better insulate a
portfolio against events that broadly affect the markets.
FIGURE 5: GOLD CORRELATION TO MAJOR ASSET CLASSES
(JULY 1991 JUNE 2011)
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1) LONDON GOLD PM FIX
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1.00 |
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2) DOW JONES U.S. SELECT REIT INDEX
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0.07 |
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3) CITIGROUP 3-MONTH T-BILL INDEX
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-0.16 |
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4) MSCI EAFE INDEX
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0.13 |
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5) BARCLAYS CAPITAL U.S. AGGREGATE INDEX
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0.14 |
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6) S&P 500® INDEX
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-0.05 |
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Source: StyleADVISOR, SSgA Global ETF Strategy &
Research, as of 6/30/2011.
The correlation coefficient measures the degree to which the
movements of two variables are related. For example, a correlation of 1.00 would (or 100%) indicate that the two asset
classes monthly returns move in the same direction (positive or negative) for the stated time period. In contrast,
a correlation coefficient of -1.00 would mean that the to indices move in opposite direction. A correlation
of zero indicates that the two exhibit no discernible relationship.
GOLD AS AN INFLATION HEDGE
Gold has been used as a hedge against inflation for
centuries. Since 1973, when the price of gold became
free-floating, gold has provided an annualized real rate of
return of 3.8% over the US consumer price index (CPI).
Historically, gold has seen its strongest price performance
in years of high inflation such as 1980, providing an
average real return of 19.2% and a median increase of 14.9
in years in which CPI has been greater than 5%.5
GOLD AS A DOLLAR HEDGE
Gold has also been used by investors to hedge
against the declining value of the dollar. In the past,
gold prices have tended to move in an inverse
relationship with the dollar. Over the past 10 years, the
correlation of gold to the US Dollar Index, a
trade-weighted basket of non-US currencies, was
-0.41.6
When the dollar declines in value, the price of gold tends
to rise, partly because gold is generally denominated in
US dollars, but also because a weakening dollar often
drives investors to purchase gold as a way to potentially
protect the value of money against further price erosion.
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4 |
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Thomas Reuters GFMS, Gold Survey 2011. |
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5 |
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World Gold Council, An Investors Guide to the Gold Market US Edition, December 2010. |
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Zephyr StyleADVISOR, SSgA Global ETF Strategy & Research, July 2001 June 2011. |
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Precise in a world that isnt.SM
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3
DIFFERENT WAYS TO ACCESS GOLD
Until the 20th century, the only way most people
could invest in
gold was to buy gold coins or bars, and the price was often
out of reach. But, today there are a variety of ways
investors can enjoy the potential benefits of gold, without
necessarily having to take physical ownership.
GOLD COINS
For most people, gold coins offer a simple way to
own physical gold directly. These coins are minted in gold
bullion and issued by both governments and private mints.
Coins minted by governments are legal tender at their face
value in their country of issue, rather than the gold
content. For investment purposes, the market value of gold
coins is determined by the value of their fine gold
content plus a premium assessed by dealers. Sizes range
from 1/20th of a troy ounce to 1,000 grams, although the
most common weights (as measured in fractions of troy
ounces) are 1/20, 1/10, 1/4, 1/2 and 1 ounce.
Gold coins are attractive for investors wishing to invest
in a relatively small amount of gold. They can be stored in
a small space and are relatively easy to purchase and sell.
At the same time, investors may need to pay extra costs to
secure and protect them against loss. Its also important
for investors to thoroughly research any dealer or mint
from which they are considering buying coins, since less
reputable sellers may sell fake gold coins or coins with
less gold content than advertised.
GOLD BARS
Investors can also buy gold bullion in the form of
gold bars. Like gold coins, gold bars offer a way for
investors to own a relatively small quantity of gold that
is relatively easy to buy and sell through dealers. Gold
bars are available in a variety of weights and sizes,
ranging from as little as one gram to 400 Troy ounces (the size of the
internationally traded London Good Delivery bar). Small
bars are defined as those weighing 1,000 grams or less.
They normally contain a minimum of 99.5% fine gold.
Generally, investors can purchase larger gold bars at a
lower
premium than smaller bars. However, gold bars in general
tend to be less liquid than gold coins because there is a
smaller market for them. Larger bars may be difficult to
sell to anyone other than a large dealer, since the pool
of private purchasers is likely to be very small. Thus,
large gold bars may be more suitable for use as long-term
investments or bequests to heirs or charitable
institutions.
As with gold coins, its important to fully research
prospective dealers to make certain that the gold is
genuine. And the same issues and added costs of insurance
and storage that apply to gold coins must be considered as
well.
GOLD ACCOUNTS
Gold accounts offer another way to purchase a larger
quantity of physical gold without the logistics and
expenses of physical ownership. The investor purchases a
specific number of gold bars from a recognized bullion
dealer or bank, which holds them in custody and is
responsible for storage and insurance. Investors must pay a
fee for these services.
Most gold accounts are either allocated or unallocated.
With an allocated account, the investor has full ownership
of his or her bars, which are numbered, assigned and held
in a specific vault. He or she has full control over how
the gold may be used and can physically remove the gold
and either keep it or move it to another custodian. The
gold may not be leased to a third party without his or her
consent.
With an unallocated account, the investor has
proportional interest in a specific quantity of gold held
by the bank or dealer, but does not have specific bars
assigned to him or her. The investor cannot remove or
transport the gold since he or she does not physically
own it. The dealer has the authority to lease or lend
the gold to a third party.
While fees for unallocated accounts are generally lower
than those for allocated accounts, the former carry higher
risks. Since the depository has no restrictions on lending
gold, there is a chance that a borrower may default on
payments or that they may not have enough gold on hand to
meet a sudden rush of redemption requests.
Whichever account an investor is considering, its
important to conduct a thorough background check on any
depository under consideration, particularly those that
are located outside the US.
GOLD MINING EQUITIES AND FUNDS
Gold mining stocks provide a means for investors
to gain leveraged exposure to the price of gold through
the profits of producers and refiners. If the price of
gold rises, the profits of mining companies generally
rise, though this is not always the case.
For example, operational issues may affect production.
Rising material and labor expenses and competitive
pressures may squeeze profit margins. Also, there are
relatively few mining companies that focus solely on gold
production. Most produce other minerals as well, and the
profits generated by gold could be offset by falling
markets in other metals.
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4
All of these factors can contribute to investors
views of these stocks, which may result in prices
outperforming or underperforming relative to the price of
gold. In addition, during times of economic or geopolitical
stress, gold stocks may move down with the market as a
whole.
For those who do not wish to invest in individual
stocks, gold sector mutual funds hold securities issued
by miners, refiners and sellers, some of which produce
other minerals in addition to gold.
Passive funds attempt to mirror the composition and
performance of a gold sector index such as the NYSE Arca
Gold Miners Index. Active funds use portfolio managers to
select equity stocks they believe will outperform a
designated benchmark. They may invest in established
companies or speculate on smaller miners with unproven
reserves. While a diversified portfolio of mining
companies may help reduce the effect of falling prices in
some stocks, it may also limit the upside potential of
stocks that are benefiting from rising gold prices.
GOLD ETFS
This category of gold ETF is designed to give
investors the potential benefits of owning gold without
the added costs and logistics of physical ownership.
Launched in 2004, SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) is the first and
largest ETF of this kind.
BACKED BY PHYSICAL GOLD
ETF shares represent a proportional interest in a
quantity of gold, minus expenses, held by an independent
trust, which is responsible for custody, transportation,
security and insurance. And since ETFs invest only in
gold, instead of mining stocks, they offer investors the
opportunity to add the strategic characteristics of gold
to their portfolio without the burden of physical
ownership.
ACCESSIBILITY
ETF shares are listed on an exchange and can be
bought and sold through brokerage accounts during the
normal trading day. Like stocks, investors may use stop and
or limit orders to protect against potential upside or
downside risk when they trade shares.
COST EFFICIENT
With a minimum purchase price of one share, ETFs
offer a cost-efficient way to own the potential benefits
of gold without the added costs of buying, storing and
insuring goldand at a significantly lower entry point
than other gold investment options with higher investment
minimums. Additionally, ETF management fees may be
significantly lower than those charged by other gold
accounts.
TRANSPARENT
Unlike gold coins, bullion, and futures whose true
value may not truly be known until an investor is ready
to sell, gold trust ETFs are fully transparent. Bid/ask
prices, NAVs, performance information and holdings are
available for public viewing on a daily basis.
GOLD IS THE BENCHMARK
Unlike actively managed gold funds or even
passively managed gold sector ETFs which track equity
indexes or futures, gold trust ETFs are designed to
precisely track the spot price of gold, providing
investors with pure exposure to gold and an easy way to
directly express their views on the gold market.
CONCLUSION: ATTRACTIVE ATTRIBUTES IN ANY ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT
Record-setting prices in the past few years have
demonstrated the historical attraction of gold in times of
market and economic uncertainty. Yet, there are many other
benefits of gold in addition to its use as a defensive
asset in challenging times. Adding a strategic allocation
to gold within a diversified portfolio can offer a number
of potential benefits to investors, including: an effective
hedge against both inflation and dollar depreciation, a
potential hedge against stock market volatility, and low
correlation with traditional asset classes and other
commodities. However, it is important to remember that, as
with all investments, past performance is not indicative of
future results and that there is guarantee that gold will
continue to exhibit these characteristics. Please see
important information below about investing in gold and
SPDR Gold Shares.
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DEFINITIONS:
CORRELATION
The correlation coefficient measures the degree to
which the movements of two variables are related. For
example, a correlation of 1.00 would (or 100%) indicate
that the two asset classes monthly returns move in the
same direction (positive or negative) for the stated time
period. In contrast, a correlation coefficient of -1.00
would mean that the to indices move in opposite direction.
A correlation of zero indicates that the two exhibit no
discernible relationship.
Alternatively, perfect negative correlation means that if
one security moves in either direction the security that is
perfectly negatively correlated will move by an equal
amount in the opposite direction. If the correlation is 0,
the movements of the securities are said to have no
correlation.
DIVERSIFICATION
A risk-management technique that mixes a wide variety
of investments within a portfolio. The rationale contends
that a portfolio of different kinds of investments will,
on average, yield higher returns and pose a lower risk
than any individual investment found within the portfolio.
It strives to smooth out events in a portfolio so that the
positive performance of some investments will neutralize
the negative performance of others.
INDEX DEFINITIONS:
BARCLAYS CAPITAL U.S. AGGREGATE INDEX
The Barclays Capital U.S. Aggregate Index represents
the securities of the US dollar-denominated, investment
grade bond market. The Index provides a measure of the
performance of the US dollar-denominated, investment
grade, bond market, which includes
investment grade (must be Baa3/BBB- or higher using the
middle rating of Moodys Investor Service, Inc., Standard
& Poors, and Fitch Rating) government bonds, investment
grade corporate bonds, mortgage pass through securities,
commercial mortgage backed securities and asset backed
securities that are publicly offered for sale in the
United States.
CITIGROUP 3-MONTH T-BILL INDEX
The Citigroup 3-Month T-Bill Index measures monthly
return equivalents of yield averages that are not marked
to market. The Three-Month Treasury Bill Indexes consist
of the last three three-month Treasury bill issues.
DOW JONES U.S. SELECT REIT INDEX
The Dow Jones U.S. Select REIT Index is comprised of
companies whose charters are the equity ownership and
operation of commercial real estate and which operate under
the REIT Act of 1960. The Index is generally rebalanced
monthly, and returns are calculated on a buy and hold basis
except as necessary to reflect the occasional occurrence of
Index changes in the middle of the month. Each REIT in the
Index is weighted by its float-adjusted market
capitalization. That is, each security is weighted to
reflect the attainable market performance of the security
which reflects that portion of securities shares that are
accessible to investors.
LONDON GOLD PM FIX
The London fix is a method of determining the price of
gold. It is carried out twice a day (10:30AM and 3:00PM,
London time) by the 5 members via a dedicated conference
call facility.
S&P 500® INDEX
The S&P 500 Index is composed of 500 selected stocks,
all of which are listed on the Exchange, the NYSE or
NASDAQ, and spans over 24 separate industry groups. Since
1968, the S&P 500 Index has been a component of the US
Commerce Departments list of Leading Indicators that
track key sectors of the US economy. Current information
regarding the market value of the S&P 500 Index is
available from market information services. The S&P 500
Index is determined, comprised and calculated without
regard to the Trust.
MSCI EAFE INDEX
The MSCI EAFE Index is a market-cap weighted index that
aims to capture 85% of the publicly available total market
capitalization. Component companies are adjusted for
available free float and must meet objective criteria for
inclusion to the index. It is rebalanced quarterly.
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STATE STREET GLOBAL MARKETS, LLC
State Street
Financial Center
One
Lincoln Street
Boston, MA 02111
866.320.4053
spdrgoldshares.com
FOR PUBLIC USE.
IMPORTANT RISK INFORMATION
As with all investments, investing in gold entails risk.
There can be no assurance that gold will maintain its
long-term value in terms of purchasing power in the future
or that gold will continue to exhibit low to negative
correlation with other asset classes. You could lose money
my investing in gold.
ETFs trade like stocks, fluctuate in market value and may
trade at prices above or below the ETFs net asset value.
Brokerage commissions and ETF expenses will reduce
returns.
Neither diversification nor asset allocation ensure
profit or guarantee against loss.
Commodities and commodity-index linked securities may be affected by
changes in overall market movements, changes in interest
rates, and other factors such as weather, disease,
embargoes, or political and regulatory developments, as
well as trading activity of speculators and arbitrageurs
in the underlying commodities.
Dow Jones, UBS Commodity IndexSM, UBS
Grains Subindex, UBS Energy Subindex and Dow Jones
U.S. Select REIT Index are service marks of Dow Jones &
Company, Inc. and UBS AG, as the case may be, and have
been licensed for use for certain purposes by State
Street Global Advisors (SSgA).
S&P GSCI® is a trademark of Standard & Poors
Financial Services, LLC. and has been licensed for use by
Goldman, Sachs & Co.
The MSCI EAFE Index is a trademark of MSCI Inc.
Barclays Capital is a trademark of Barclays Capital, the
investment banking division of Barclays Bank PLC
(Barclays Capital) and has been licensed for use in
connection with the listing and trading of the SPDR
Barclays Capital ETFs. The products are not sponsored,
sold or promoted by Barclays Capital and Barclays Capital
makes no representation regarding the advisability of
investing in them.
The SPDR Gold Trust (GLD) has filed a registration
statement (including a prospectus) with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (SEC) for the offering to which this
communication relates. Before you invest, you should read
the prospectus in that registration statement and other
documents GLD has filed with the SEC for more complete
information about GLD and this offering. You may get these
documents for free by visiting EDGAR on the SEC website at
www.sec.gov or by visiting www.spdrgoldshares.com.
Alternatively, the Trust or any authorized participant will
arrange to send you the prospectus if you request it by
calling 1-866-320-4053.
GLD shares trade like stocks, are subject to investment
risk and will fluctuate in market value. The value of GLD
shares relates directly to the value of the gold held by
GLD (less its expenses), and fluctuations in the price of
gold could materially and adversely affect an investment in
the shares. The price received upon the sale of the shares,
which trade at market price, may be more or less than the
value of the gold represented by them. There can be no
assurance that the active trading market for GLD shares
will be maintained. GLD does not generate any income, and
as GLD regularly sells gold to pay for its ongoing
expenses, the amount of gold represented by each Share will
decline over time. Investing involves risk, and you could
lose money on an investment in GLD. Please see the GLD
prospectus for a detailed discussion of the risks of
investing in GLD shares.
STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This document includes forward-looking statements which
generally relate to future events or future performance. In
some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by
terminology such as may, will, should, expect,
plan, anticipate, believe, estimate, predict,
potential, it is likely or the negative of these terms
or other comparable terminology.
All statements (other than statements of historical fact) included in this document
that address activities, events or developments that will
or may occur in the future, including such matters as
changes in commodity prices and market conditions (for gold
and the Shares), the Trusts operations, the Sponsors
plans and references to the Trusts future success and
other similar matters are forward-looking statements.
Investors are cautioned that these statements are only
projections. Actual events or results may differ
materially. These statements are based upon certain
assumptions and analyses the Sponsor made based on its
perception of historical trends, current conditions and
expected future developments, as well as other factors
believed appropriate in the circumstances. Whether or not
actual results and developments will conform to the
Sponsors expectations and predictions, however, is subject
to a number of risks and uncertainties, including, the
factors identified in the Risk Factors section of the
Prospectus filed with the SEC and in other filings made by
the Trust from time to time with the SEC. Consequently, all
the forward-looking statements made in this material are
qualified by these cautionary statements, and there can be
no assurance that the actual results or developments the
Sponsor or the Marketing Agent anticipates will be realized
or, even if substantially realized, that they will result
in the expected consequences to, or have the expected
effects on, the Trusts operations or the value of the
Shares. Neither the Sponsor, the Marketing Agent nor any
other person assumes responsibility for the accuracy or
completeness of the forward-looking statements. Neither the
Trust, the Marketing Agent nor the Sponsor is under a duty
to update any of the forward-looking statements to conform
such statements to actual results or to reflect a change in
the Sponsors or the Marketing Agents expectation or
projections.
SPDR is a registered trademark of Standard & Poors
Financial Services LLC (S&P) and has been licensed for
use by State Street Corporation. No financial product
offered by State Street Corporation or its affiliates is
sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by S&P or its
affiliates, and S&P and its affiliates make no
representation, warranty or condition regarding the
advisability of buying, selling or holding units/shares
in such products. Further limitations that could affect
investors rights may be found in the SPDR Gold Shares
prospectus.
The Trust is sponsored by World Gold Trust Services, LLC
(the Sponsor), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the World
Gold Council. State Street Global Markets, LLC (the
Marketing Agent) is the marketing agent of the Trust and
an affiliate of State Street Global Advisors.
For more information: State Street Global Markets, LLC, One Lincoln Street, Boston, MA, 02111 866.320.4053 www.spdrgoldshares.com.
Not FDIC Insured No Bank Guarantee May Lose Value
© 2011 State Street Corporation. All Rights Reserved. IBG-4730 Exp. Date: 12/31/2011 IBG.GLD.CF.1011
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SPDR® GOLD TRUST has filed a registration statement (including a prospectus) with
the SEC for the offering to which this communication relates. Before you invest, you should read
the prospectus in that registration statement and other documents the issuer has filed with the SEC
for more complete information about the Trust and this offering. You may get these documents for
free by visiting EDGAR on the SEC Web site at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, the Trust or any
Authorized Participant will arrange to send you the prospectus if you request it by calling toll
free at 1-866-320-4053 or contacting State Street Global Markets, LLC, One Lincoln Street, Attn:
SPDR® Gold Shares, 30th Floor, Boston, MA 02111.