(Source: Business Wire)
ASA Limited (NYSE:ASA), a closed-end fund specializing in gold and other precious mineral investments worldwide, today reported the release of the following information with respect to the Company's operations for the six months ended May 31, 2009:
Net assets $552,514,699 Shares outstanding 7,200,000 Net asset value per share $76.74 Net investment income(loss) (1) ($255,818) Net investment income (loss) per share (1) ($.04) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Excludes the following items- Amount Per share Net realized gain from $4,056,751 $.56 investments (including realized (loss) on investments from foreign currency transactions) Net realized gain from other $9,904 -- foreign currency transactions Net increase in unrealized $208,329,193 $28.93 appreciation on investments -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gold mining shares and gold bullion performed well over the last six months despite the negative news regarding the global economic environment. Since the end of November 2008, gold prices have risen from $814.50 to $975.50 per ounce at the end of May 2009. During this same period, the Company's total return, including reinvested dividends, was 70.2% based on the NAV per share and 71.5% based on the market price per share, including reinvested dividends. The discount to the NAV at which the Company's shares have traded in the market decreased slightly from 10.8% at the end of November 2008 to 10.1% at the end of May 2009.
