Gold Miners Screened ETF Report | June 2026

Gold Miners Screened ETF – Key Takeaways

UBS Lowers Gold Price Forecast, But Still Bullish – UBS cut its year-end 2026 gold price forecast from $5,900 to $5,500 per ounce, citing risks of persistent headwinds from elevated Treasury yields tied to higher inflation and sustained U.S. dollar strength. Markets are rediscovering the concept of opportunity cost, with gold’s non-yielding characteristics once again becoming a more important consideration as interest rates remain elevated. While UBS does not believe the structural gold bull market is over, its analysts think investors may require greater patience in the face of these challenges. However, the analysts project gold will finish the year $1,000 higher than its current price. Looking ahead to 2027, UBS sees a more neutral monetary policy backdrop could weaken support for the dollar and improve investor appetite for gold once again. Continued tensions in Iran and risks in the Strait of Hormuz have added upside pressure to both prices and volatility in commodities, most notably oil. UBS continues to see upside for commodities, driven by fundamentals and supply-demand imbalances alongside further geopolitical risks. Gold prices are currently just under 13% below their all-time closing high in January, with higher rate expectations since the escalation of tensions negatively weighing on sentiment.[1]

Investors and the Dip in Gold Stocks – Geopolitical tensions would normally support demand for safe-haven assets such as gold. Instead, investors are focused on the possibility that inflation could remain elevated, leading central banks to keep interest rates higher for longer. As a result, gold stocks are trading off peak valuations suggesting bargain hunters may want to give them a second look.  Gold has dropped from $5,247 per ounce near the end of February to just over $4,500 now. Gold stocks are considered leveraged plays on the price of gold.  Gold is 13% off its January highs, after enjoying a multiyear rally that included gains of more than 30% in the past year. Gold miners have many fixed costs, so lower gold prices squeeze their profit margins. But the good news is that this dynamic works in reverse. If the price of gold rebounds, mining stocks typically bounce back quickly. Assuming a gold price rebound is in the cards, gold stocks may be attractive. Supporting gold’s long-term uptrend is central banks, who grew their gold purchases by 17% annually between 2021 and 2025, according to the World Gold Council.  As central banks continue to diversify their reserves away from the U.S. dollar, gold should resume its climb. This is one reason many strategists remain bullish on gold over the long-term despite short-term, Iran inflation-related headwinds.[2]

Case for Responsibly Sourced Gold – The investment case for ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) gold centres on combining gold’s traditional safe-haven characteristics with modern climate-risk mitigation and strict supply-chain transparency. By choosing gold that is certified under rigid sustainability frameworks, investors may protect their capital while avoiding the significant reputational, operational, and environmental risks historically tied to the mining sector.  Once mined and refined, physical gold is one of the most carbon-neutral assets to hold long-term. It requires zero energy to store compared to running corporate data centres or factories. Investing in physical bars backed strictly by recycled gold reduces carbon intensity by roughly 90% compared to newly mined gold. Illegal artisanal mining often introduces black-market contamination, human rights abuses, and toxic chemical leaks. ESG gold ensures compliance with rigorous frameworks, such as the London Bullion Market Association (LBMA) Good Delivery standards and the Responsible Gold Mining Principles. Gold mining operations with independently verified ESG reporting face fewer legal bottlenecks, enjoy better relationships with host communities, and experience lower costs of debt. Responsibly managed mines may also foster economic growth in remote, developing regions by funding infrastructure, clean water access, and post-mining alternative employment programs.[3]

Company News – Earnings analysis

Past performance is not indicative of future performance and when you invest in ETFs your capital is at risk

Last rebalance (20.03.2026)

Macro Outlook – Why is gold down YTD?

Gold prices are primarily down due to a strong U.S. dollar, elevated interest rates, and shifting inflation expectations. This is because gold is a non-yielding asset, higher yields on U.S. Treasury bonds make them more attractive, and a strong dollar reduces foreign demand. Several interconnected factors are driving the drop in gold prices:

• Strong U.S. Dollar: Gold is priced in U.S. dollars globally. When the dollar strengthens—often driven by global tensions—gold becomes more expensive for international buyers, which suppresses demand.
• Higher Interest Rates: Gold pays no interest or dividends. When central banks keep interest rates high to combat inflation, investors often pivot toward yield-generating assets like bonds or savings accounts.
• Shifting Safe-Haven Preferences: During recent Middle East conflicts and energy shocks, the U.S. dollar has surprisingly outperformed gold as a safe-haven asset, drawing investment away from precious metals.[4]
• Profit-Taking: Gold saw significant rallies and record highs prior to this period, prompting many investors to sell off assets and lock in their profits when economic conditions tightened.[5]

Gold Miners Screened ETF Performance
As of 30.09.2026

Please note that all performance figures are showing net data. Source: Bloomberg / HANetf. Data as of 30.09.2026

Performance before inception is based on back-tested data. Backtesting is the process of evaluating an investment strategy by applying it to historical data to simulate what the performance of such a strategy would have been. Back-tested data does not represent actual performance and should not be interpreted as an indication of actual or future performance. Past performance for the index is in USD. Past performance is not an indicator for future results and should not be the sole factor of consideration when selecting a product. Investors should read the prospectus of the Issuer (“Prospectus”) before investing and should refer to the section of the Prospectus entitled ‘Risk Factors’ for further details of risks associated with an investment in this product. When you invest in ETFs your capital is at risk.

[1] https://www.kitco.com/news/article/2026-05-27/ubs-lowers-2026-gold-price-forecast-5500oz-markets-are-rediscovering

[2] https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/gold-stocks-are-in-a-bear-market-the-case-for-buying/ar-AA24FjyO

[3] https://www.gold.org/goldhub/esg

[4] https://www.tradingview.com/symbols/XAUUSD/?timeframe=1M

[5] Source: VettaFi