REG-BlackRock World Mining Trust Plc: Portfolio Update

BlackRock World Mining TrustAnnouncement

16/11/2023 10:45

The information contained in this release was correct as at 31 October 2023.
Information on the Company’s up to date net asset values can be found on the
London Stock Exchange website at:

 

https://www.londonstockexchange.com/exchange/news/market-news/market-news-home.html.

 

BLACKROCK WORLD MINING TRUST PLC (LEI - LNFFPBEUZJBOSR6PW155)

All information is at 31 October 2023 and unaudited.
 

 Performance at month end with net income reinvested                                           
                                                                                               
                                                          One    Three   One    Three  Five    
                                                          Month  Months  Year   Years  Years   
 Net asset value                                          -6.7%  -12.1%  -1.7%  47.2%  82.6%   
 Share price                                              -8.6%  -13.2%  -5.8%  59.1%  111.5%  
 MSCI ACWI Metals & Mining 30% Buffer 10/40 Index (Net)*  -4.6%  -8.8%   5.6%   37.9%  60.0%   
                                                                                               
 * (Total return) Sources: BlackRock, MSCI ACWI Metals & Mining 30% Buffer 10/40 Index, Datastream 
                                                                                               

At month end

 Net asset value (including income) 1 :  561.40p      
 Net asset value (capital only):         543.73p      
 Share price:                            540.00p      
 Discount to NAV 2 :                     3.8%         
 Total assets:                           £1,230.7m    
 Net yield 3 :                           7.4%         
 Net gearing:                            12.8%        
 Ordinary shares in issue:               191,183,036  
 Ordinary shares held in Treasury:       1,828,806    
 Ongoing charges 4 :                     0.95%        
 Ongoing charges 5 :                     0.84%        
                                                      

 

1 Includes net revenue of 17.67p.

2 Discount to NAV including income.

3 Based on a final dividend of 23.50p per share declared on 2 March 2023 in
respect of the year ended 31 December 2022, a first and second interim
dividend of 5.50p per share and a third interim dividend of 5.50p per share
declared on 11 October 2023 with ex-date 23 November 2023 and pay date of 22
December 2023 in respect of the year ending 31 December 2023.

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 2022.

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 2022.


 Country Analysis    Total         
                      Assets (%)   
                                   
 Global              65.0          
 Australasia         7.8           
 Latin America       7.7           
 Canada              7.2           
 United States       6.4           
 Other Africa        2.9           
 Indonesia           0.8           
 South Africa        0.2           
 Asia                0.2           
 Net Current Assets  1.8           
                     -----         
                     100.0         
                     =====         
                                   

 

 

 Sector Analysis        Total         
                         Assets (%)   
                                      
 Diversified            35.7          
 Copper                 22.3          
 Gold                   16.0          
 Steel                  6.2           
 Industrial Minerals    5.7           
 Aluminium              3.1           
 Uranium                2.4           
 Iron Ore               2.4           
 Platinum Group Metals  1.8           
 Nickel                 1.4           
 Mining Services        1.1           
 Zinc                   0.1           
 Net Current Assets     1.8           
                        -----         
                        100.0         
                        =====         
                                      

  

 

 Ten largest investments                  
                                          
 Company                  Total Assets %  
                                          
 BHP:                                     
 Equity                   7.4             
 Royalty                  1.6             
 Glencore                 8.5             
 Vale:                                    
 Equity                   4.9             
 Debenture                2.6             
 Rio Tinto                6.9             
 Freeport-McMoRan         4.4             
 Newmont                  3.8             
 Barrick Gold             3.1             
 Wheaton Precious Metals  2.8             
 Teck Resources           2.6             
 Norsk Hydro ASA          2.5             
                                          
                                          

 

 Asset Analysis      Total Assets (%)  
 Equity              95.2              
 Bonds               2.3               
 Convertible Bonds   0.7               
 Net Current Assets  1.8               
                     -----             
                     100.0             
                     =====             

 

 Commenting on the markets, Evy Hambro and Olivia Markham, representing the Investment Manager noted:                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 
 Performance                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 
 The Company’s NAV fell by 6.7% in October, underperforming its reference index, the MSCI ACWI Metals and Mining 30% Buffer 10/40 Index (net return), which fell by 4.6% (performance figures in GBP).  October was a challenging month for the mining sector. Increased geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and expectations for higher-for-longer interest rates appeared to contribute to a risk-off environment for equities. For reference, the MSCI ACWI TR Index fell by 3.0% during the month. Meanwhile, sentiment 
 towards China remained negative as the country’s manufacturing PMI fell to 49.5 from 50.6 in September. However, the Chinese administration continues to point to stimulus measures, which we expect to come through incrementally.  Mined commodity performance was mixed, with the copper price falling -2.2% but the iron ore price (62% fe) rising +2.1%. Elsewhere, the precious metals performed well on ‘safe-haven’ demand, with gold, silver and platinum prices rising +7.5%, +3.5% and +1.8% respectively. Meanwhile, 
 battery materials prices were weak (particularly lithium) after General Motors and Ford announced a pullback in electric vehicle-related spend. At the company-level, we saw Q3 production numbers announced during the month, which were generally below or in line with expectations. We also saw some miners having to announce capital expenditure increases.                                                                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 
 Strategy and Outlook                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 
 China has re-opened but with less impact than had been expected early this year. Uncertainty persists around China’s commodity demand, but we are seeing the Chinese administration announce financial support incrementally.  Longer term, we are excited by the structural demand growth for a range of mined commodities that will result from the low carbon transition. Meanwhile, commodity supply is likely to be constrained by the capital discipline of recent years, whilst inventories for many mined commodities   
 are at historic lows. Mining companies have low levels of debt, continue to return capital to shareholders but appear to be entering a higher capital expenditure phase.  In 2023, we have seen Brown to Green emerge as a key theme, where mining companies are focusing 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.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
 16 November 2023  Latest information is available by typing www.blackrock.com/uk/brwm on the internet. Neither the contents of the Manager’s website nor the contents of any website accessible from hyperlinks on the Manager’s website (or any other website) is incorporated into, or forms part of, this announcement.                                                                                                                                                                                                      

 



Copyright (c) 2023 PR Newswire Association,LLC. All Rights Reserved