Get tools and resources to help you manage your clients' portfolios.

Yes, I am a financial professional
No, I am an individual investor
United States
Welcome, Guest
 
Are you a financial professional?
By Asset ClassBy Index Provider

Trust Documents

Related Links & Documents

 

The iShares® Silver Trust is not an investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 or a commodity pool for purposes of the Commodity Exchange Act. Shares of the Silver Trust are not subject to the same regulatory requirements as mutual funds.

Please read the prospectus carefully before investing

Total Returns as of 9/30/2009

  Total Returns (%)
SLV
Index Index
YTD 51.88 52.46
1 Month 13.08 13.14
3 Months 17.86 18.01
6 Months 25.15 25.48
1 Year 26.29 26.93
3 Years 11.95 12.51
5 Years -- 19.80
10 Years -- 11.43
Since Inception 8.56 9.09
Returns are average annualized total returns, except those for periods of less than one year, which are cumulative.

Annual Returns

  Total Returns (%)
SLV
Index * Index
2008 -27.26 -26.90
2007 13.85 14.42
* Source: Bloomberg. The iShares Silver Trust's silver and other assets are valued on the basis of each day's announced London Silver Fix, the price for an ounce of silver set by three market making members of the London Bullion Market Association, minus all accrued fees, expenses and liabilities.

Fees & Expenses

Expense Type Amount
Expense Ratio 0.50%

 
The performance quoted represents past performance and does not guarantee future results. Investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor's shares, when sold, may be worth more or less than the original cost. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance quoted.

London Silver Fix Price returns are for illustrative purposes only and do not represent actual iShares Silver Trust performance. London Silver Fix Price returns do not reflect any management fees, transaction costs or expenses. London Fix is the price per ounce of silver set by three market making members of the London Bullion Market Association at approximately 12:00 noon, London time, on each working day.

Barclays Global Investors International, Inc. (BGII) is the iShares Silver Trust's sponsor. Barclays Global Investors Fund Distribution Company, a subsidiary of BGII, assists in the marketing of the Silver Trust. BGII is an affiliate of Barclays Global Investors, N.A., which is a majority-owned subsidiary of Barclays Bank PLC.

Investing involves risk, including possible loss of principal. Because shares of the iShares Silver Trust are expected to reflect the price of the silver held by the iShares Silver Trust, the market price of the shares will be as unpredictable as the price of silver has historically been. Additionally, shares of the Silver Trust are bought and sold at market price (not NAV). Brokerage commissions will reduce returns.

The price received upon the sale of shares of the iShares Silver Trust, which trade at market price, may be more or less than the value of the silver represented by them. If an investor sells the shares at a time when no active market for them exists, such lack of an active market will most likely adversely affect the price received for the shares. For a more complete discussion of risk factors relative to the Silver Trust, carefully read the prospectus.

Following an investment in the iShares Silver Trust, several factors may have the effect of causing a decline in the prices of silver and a corresponding decline in the price of the shares. Among them: (i) A change in economic conditions, such as a recession, can adversely affect the price of silver. Silver is used in a wide range of industrial applications, and an economic downturn could have a negative impact on its demand and, consequently, its price and the price of the iShares. (ii) A significant change in the attitude of speculators and investors towards silver. Should the speculative community take a negative view towards silver, a decline in world silver prices could occur, negatively impacting the price of the iShares. (iii) A significant increase in silver price hedging activity by silver producers. Traditionally, silver producers have not hedged to the same extent as other producers of precious metals (gold, for example) do. Should there be an increase in the level of hedge activity of silver producing companies, it could cause a decline in world silver prices, adversely affecting the price of the iShares.

Silver Spot Prices provided by The Bullion Desk. No warranty is given for the accuracy of these prices and no liability is accepted for reliance thereon. Prices are provided on a reasonable efforts basis and delays may occur both because of the delay in third parties communicating the information to the site and because of delays inherent in posting information over the internet. Prices shown are indicative only and do not represent actionable quotations on prices of actual trades.

Although shares of the iShares Silver Trust may be bought or sold on the exchange through any brokerage account, shares are not redeemable except in large aggregated units called Baskets.

Silver Spot Prices and London Silver Fix prices are for illustrative purposes only and do not represent actual iShares Silver Trust performance. Silver Spot Prices and London Silver Fix prices do not reflect any management fees, transaction costs, or expenses. Past performance does not guarantee future results. London Silver Fix is the price per ounce of silver set by three market making members of the London Bullion Market. Association at approximately noon London time, on each working day.

The amount of silver represented by shares of the iShares Silver Trust will decrease over the life of the iShares Silver Trust due to sales necessary to pay the sponsor's fee and iShares Silver Trust expenses. Without increase in the price of silver sufficient to compensate for that decrease, the price of the iShares will also decline, and investors will lose money on their investment in the iShares. The Silver Trust will have limited duration. The liquidation of the trust may occur at a time when the disposition of the trust's silver will result in losses to investors.

Although BGI believes that market makers will take advantage of differences between the NAV and the trading price of Silver Trust shares through abitage opportunities, BGI cannot guarantee that they will do so. BGI cannot guarantee an active trading market for the shares, which may result in losses on your investment at the time of disposition of your shares. The value of the shares of the Silver Trust will be adversely affected if silver owned by the trust is lost or damaged in circumstances in which the trust is not in a position to recover the corresponding loss. The Silver Trust is a passive investment vehicle. This means that the value of your shares may be adversely affected by trust losses that, if the trust had been actively managed, it might have been possible to avoid.

Shares of the iShares Silver Trust are not deposits or other obligations of or guaranteed by Barclays Global Investors, N.A. or its affiliates ("BGI"), and are not insured by the Federal deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency.

When comparing commodities and the iShares Silver Trust, it should be remembered that management fees associated with the Trust are not borne by investors in individual commodities. Buying and selling shares of the iShares Silver Trust will result in brokerage commissions. Because the expenses involved in an investment in physical silver will be dispersed among all holders of shares of the Silver Trust, an investment in the Silver Trust may represent a cost-efficient alternative to investments in silver for investors not otherwise able to participate directly in the market for physical silver.

©2009 Barclays Global Investors, N.A. All rights reserved. iShares® is a registered trademark of Barclays Global Investors, N.A. All other trademarks, service marks or registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.