15 Billion SNB Losses on Gold in 2013, But 40 Billion SNB Profit on Gold between 2000 and 2012

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George Dorgan
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When the Swiss National Bank (SNB) published its preliminary 2013 annual results, it said:

According to provisional calculations, the Swiss National Bank (SNB) will report a loss in the order of CHF 9 billion for the 2013 financial year. Valuation losses on gold holdings amounting to some CHF 15 billion contrast with a gain of around CHF 3 billion on foreign currency positions and ..
more  SNB

If we distinguish between total profit and profit on gold since 2000, we obtain the following:

Since the SNB decided to value gold at market prices in 1999, the total SNB profit over the years has been 32.1 bln. CHF. Gold contribute 24.6 billion and income on foreign currency investments only 7 bln CHF. Between 2000 and 2012 the profit on gold had been 40 billion francs. Between 2000 and 2007 the bank sold gold for an average CHF 16241 per kilo and realized profit.

Most of these gold holdings  were accumulated during decades until the 1970s,most for the official Bretton Woods rate of 35 dollar per ounce, 1260 dollar per kilo. In 1949 the Bretton Woods FX rates fixed at 4.375 CHF per dollar, this corresponded to 5512 CHF per kilo.

By end 2013, the price for a kilo was around CHF 35700. Here a different source for SNB total annual results.

via Hubon

The SNB claims that – opposed to stocks and bonds – gold is not useful, because it has just a cost of carry but no yield.

However, the average yearly capital return of SNB gold positions has been 10.8% since the year 2000. Details:

(click to expand), major source SNB annual reports, e.g. report 2012 on page 72.

About George Dorgan

George Dorgan (penname) predicted the end of the EUR/CHF peg at the CFA Society and at many occasions on SeekingAlpha.com and on this blog. Several Swiss and international financial advisors support the site. These firms aim to deliver independent advice from the often misleading mainstream of banks and asset managers. George is FinTech entrepreneur, financial author and alternative economist. He speak seven languages fluently.

My articlesMy siteAbout meMy books
Follow on:LinkedINTwitterSeeking AlphaCFA SocietyEconomicBlogs