Financial instruments such as stocks, bonds and apartments carry a risk of future cash flows, and along with this risk come the calculable returns.
Gold, on the other hand, should not be compared to such investments. Even though gold is a physical asset, it is held in central banksâ FX reserves alongside other currencies, and it is traded internationally on FX markets. Just like other currencies, gold does not yield anything and thus there is no associated risk of future cash flows.
However, in contrast to other currencies, gold does not have a central bank that could create it out of nothing. Thus gold is the only asset that truly does not carry a counterparty risk[1].
According to various comprehensive studies, gold allocation improves the risk-adjusted returns of an institutional portfolio. In other words, it decreases volatility and increases the absolute returns[1][2].
Among other things, goldâs deep liquidity and its data-backed track record in the improvement of the risk-adjusted returns of institutional portfolios make it a unique asset class. Gold is also a physical metal and not, for example, a debt instrument or a security. Independence and good financial ratios make gold an excellent instrument for diversification.
The aforementioned factors and goldâs role as a historical store of value are also why central banks always have gold on their balance sheets. In addition, gold offers unparalleled protection and liquidity against systematic risks.
Data from January 2000 to December 2021. Sources: Nasdaq, FRED, Macrotrends, MSCI and World Gold Council.
Institutional gold allocations
From Bridgewater Associates to the Dutch pension fund DSM, major investors tend to have a long-term allocation in gold. We have gathered a list of some of the major institutional investors that have allocated funds into gold.
Investment returns measured in gold
Weak national currencies such as the Turkish lira and the Argentine peso continuously lose purchasing power when measured in strong national currencies such as the euro or the dollar. What is often overlooked is that even these so-called strong national currencies lose purchasing power when measured in gold. This impacts the investment returns of assets denominated in euros and dollars. For an investor, looking at real returns means a lot more than looking at nominal returns. It simply does not make sense to measure returns with a yardstick that keeps on shortening.
When measuring the real returns in gold from the beginning of 2000 to the end of 2021, it turns out that none of the major asset classes had positive returns, as can be seen in the table above. This means that the investors who invested in stocks and bonds during this period have carried all the risks associated with these asset classes in their portfolio, but they still lost money compared to if they would have just held their purchasing power in gold for 21 years.
S&P 500 & OMXHGI indices measured in gold from 2000 to 2021. Source: Nasdaq.
During the 1970sâa period in recent history known for high inflation and low growth, or stagflationâthe S&P 500 index gained 17%, moving from 92 points to 108. However, this is the return measured in US dollars, whose value was decimated due to rampant inflation in the 1970s. When measured in gold, the S&P 500 lost 92% of its value during the high inflationary years of the 1970s.
As a matter of fact, at the end of 2021, the US benchmark equity index (S&P 500) was at the same level as it was in 1965 when measured in gold.
S&P 500 index measured in gold from 1945 to 2021. Source: Nasdaq.
There is only one way to own gold
Large institutions and central banks own physical gold directly. This is contrasted with gold ETFs or gold futures, in which the gold is embedded in a complex structure of ownership. Direct ownership allows investors to reap all the benefits of owning gold and protect themselves against systematic risks.
A gold ETF is a share in a fund, whose holder in reality owns shares or zero-coupon perpetual bonds issued by the fund. Gold futures are derivative contracts. Both ETFs and futures are essentially IOUs, which involve a risk that the counterparty cannot meet their liabilities. In the worst case scenario, for example, if the ETFâs custodian has to undergo debt restructuring, the gold might be used to pay off the custodianâs debts[1].
Because one of the most significant advantages of gold over other asset classes is the lack of counterparty risk and the protection against a systematic risk, gold ownership should be as direct as possible.
Xetra-GoldÂź investors only acquire the rights securitised in the notes. Investors do not acquire ownership / beneficial ownership or a lien to the gold held in custody in physical form on the issuerâs behalf or to the issuerâs rights on the unallocated weight account.
Although Shares are listed for trading on NYSE Arca, it cannot be assumed that an active trading market for the Shares will be maintained. If an investor needs to sell Shares at a time when no active market for Shares exists, or there is a halt in trading of securities generally or of the Shares, this will most likely adversely affect the price the investor receives for the Shares (assuming the investor is able to sell them).
Gold-backed euro obligation
Voima also offers an interest product for professional investors, called Gold-backed euro obligation.
Voimaâs subsidiary Voima Gold Financing Oy (VGF, business ID: 3182353-6) funds the credit that Voimaâs Customers can take against their gold. The credit is financed by Gold-backed euro obligationâa safe interest-bearing instrument for professional investors. The product pays competitive interest and is backed by real security.
The gold on a Customerâs Voima Account serves as collateral, and VGFâs funds are used only to finance gold-backed credit, which makes the companyâs business clear and simple. If necessary, the collateralised gold will be sold, so that the credit is always fully backed. The high liquidity of gold and the markets that are active round the clock make gold excellent collateral that is easy to realise when necessary. The maturities range from six (6) months to ten (10) years.
Loco London gold transfer and position conversions for Voima Account
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Every institutional Customer is assigned a Client Treasurer, who will arrange any of these services for the Customer
Converting existing positions for Voima Account
Even though ETF or futures positions do not grant gold ownership, many positions can be converted into physical gold through EFP (Exchange for Physical) and swap transactions. Voima has the capability to convert the following positions for the Customerâs Voima Account:
Through its logistics network, Voima has the capability to transport bullion from other vaults to the companyâs own vault in Finland. The logistics are organised in cooperation with Brinks, Loomis and Nokas.
Feel free to contact Voima, if your portfolio has any other positions you would be interested in converting or transferring.
Reporting
Voima offers flexible and customised reporting for its institutional Customers. Whether you need daily valuations or semiannual reporting, Voima reports to you exactly as often and the way you require. If needed, Voima can also report directly to third parties.
Interested?
If you wish to become an institutional Customer or want to learn more about the relevant services, feel free to contact Niko, our Vice President of Institutional Sales:
The year 2021 provided robust growth for Voima. We hit new sales records, boosted our revenue and Customer base considerably, and more than doubled the assets under administration.
