ANCHOR
GOLD AND
CURRENCY
TRUST
ANNUAL REPORT
DECEMBER 31, 1998
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ANCHOR GOLD AND CURRENCY TRUST
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Comparison of the Change in Value of a $10,000 Investment in the Anchor Gold
& Currency Trust and Gold Bullion and the XAU Index
[GRAPHIC OMITTED]
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ANCHOR GOLD AND CURRENCY TRUST
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CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
DECEMBER 31, 1998
Assets:
Investments at quoted market value (cost $15,291,714;
see Schedule of Investments, Notes 1, 2, & 5)................. $ 12,277,630
Cash ......................................................... 508,332
Dividends and interest receivable.............................. 10,964
Other assets................................................... 1,809
------------
Total assets.............................................. 12,798,735
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Liabilities:
Accrued expenses and other liabilities (Note 3)................ 64,531
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Total liabilities......................................... 64,531
------------
Net Assets:
Capital stock (9,829,269 shares of no par value stock authorized,
amount paid in on 3,036,896 shares outstanding) (Note 1)...... 19,632,947
Accumulated undistributed net investment income (Note 1)....... (851,097)
Accumulated realized loss from security transactions, net (Note 1) (3,033,562)
Net unrealized depreciation in value of investments (Note 2).. (3,014,084)
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Net assets (equivalent to $4.19 per share, based on
3,036,896 capital shares outstanding).................... $ 12,734,204
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ANCHOR GOLD AND CURRENCY TRUST
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CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
DECEMBER 31, 1998
Income:
Dividends..................................................... $ 48,587
Interest......................................................
278,664
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Total income.............................................. 327,251
------------
Expenses:
Management fees (Note 3)...................................... 98,895
Pricing and bookkeeping fees (Note 4)......................... 20,230
Legal fees.................................................... 14,000
Audit and accounting fees..................................... 9,500
Transfer fees (Note 4)........................................ 6,500
Custodian fees................................................ 4,803
Trustees' fees and expenses................................... 4,000
Printing expense.............................................. 1,600
Chicago Stock Exchange listing fees........................... 1,250
Other expenses................................................ 7,473
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Total expenses............................................ 168,251
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Net investment income.......................................... 159,000
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Realized and unrealized loss on investments:
Realized loss on investments-net............................. (654,950)
Decrease in net unrealized appreciation in investments....... (85,345)
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Net loss on investments................................... (740,295)
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Net decrease in net assets resulting from operations........... $ (581,295)
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ANCHOR GOLD AND CURRENCY TRUST
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CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS
Year Ended Year Ended
December 31, December 31,
1998 1997
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From operations:
Net investment income........................... $ 159,000 $ 155,423
Realized loss on investments, net............... (654,950) (1,742,176)
Decrease in net unrealized
appreciation in investments................... (85,345) (4,327,754)
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Net decrease in
net assets resulting from operations.......... (581,295) (5,914,507)
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Distributions to shareholders:
From net investment income
($0.20 per share in 1998 and $0.01 per share in (586,664) (32,040)
1997)
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Total distributions to shareholders......... (586,664) (32,040)
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From capital share transactions:
Number of Shares
1998 1997
-----------------------
Proceeds from sale of
shares.................. -- -- -- --
Shares issued to share-
holders in distributions
reinvested.............. 132,619 6,998 555,675 31,982
Cost of shares redeemed.. (15,497) (775,836) (71,169) (3,753,107)
--------- --------- ----------- ------------
Increase (decrease) in net
assets resulting from
capital
share transactions...... 117,122 (768,838) 484,506 (3,721,125)
======== ========== ----------- ------------
Net decrease in net assets....................... (683,453) (9,667,672)
Net assets:
Beginning of period............................ 13,417,657 23,085,329
============ ============
End of period (including undistributed
net investment income of ($851,097)
and ($852,234), respectively).............. $12,734,204 13,417,657
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ANCHOR GOLD AND CURRENCY TRUST
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CONSOLIDATED SELECTED PER SHARE DATA AND RATIOS
(for a share outstanding throughout each period)
Year Ended December 31,
1998 1997 1996 1995 1994
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Investment income........ $(0.19) $0.08 $0.03 $0.04 $0.03
Expenses, net............ (0.09) 0.05 0.07 0.06 0.09
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Net investment income (0.10) 0.03 (0.04) (0.02) (0.06)
(loss)...................
Net realized and
unrealized
gain (loss) on
investments.............. (0.11) (1.68) 0.61 0.11 (0.90)
Distributions to
shareholders:
From net investment
income................ (0.20) (0.01) -- -- --
From net realized gain
on investments...... -- -- -- -- --
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Net (decrease) increase
in net asset value...... (0.41) (1.66) 0.57 0.09 (0.96)
Net asset value:
Beginning of period..... 4.60 6.26 5.69 5.60 6.56
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End of period........... $4.19 $4.60 $6.26 $5.69 $5.60
=====================================================
Ratio of expenses to
average net assets...... 1.27% 1.12% 1.10% 1.10% 1.12%
Ratio of net investment
income
(loss) to average net
assets................... 1.20% 0.78% (0.60%) (0.47%) (0.68%)
Portfolio turnover....... 0.53 0.24 0.18 0.17 0.32
Average commission rate
paid..................... 0.0403 0.0454 0.0389 0.0441 0.0475
Number of shares
outstanding at end of
period.................. 3,036,896 2,919,774 3,688,612 3,688,612 3,688,612
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ANCHOR GOLD AND CURRENCY TRUST
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CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 1998
Value
Quantity (Note 1)
COMMON STOCKS -- 21.03%
Gold/Silver Mining Stocks
140,000 Aquiline Resources Incorporated..........................$ 5,600
10,000 Canabrava Diamond Corporation............................ 4,800
45,000 Euro Nevada Mining Corporation Limited................... 731,250
30,000 Franco Nevada Mining Corporation......................... 576,600
40,000 Golden Star Resources Limited............................ 40,000
210,000 Guyanor Resources SA*.................................... 75,600
300,000 Miramar Mining Corporation............................... 276,000
30,000 Normandy Mining Ltd. ADR................................. 279,600
247,200 Northern Orion Exploration Limited*...................... 42,024
10,000 Southwestern Gold Corporation............................ 39,200
159,900 Universal Gold Limited*.................................. 578,838
350,000 War Eagle Mining Company Incorporated.................... 28,000
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Total common stocks (cost $5,506,020).................... 2,677,512
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FOREIGN TIME DEPOSITS -- 74.83%
34,073,332 French Franc, maturing 01/04/99, at 2.875%
(cost $6,095,719)....................................... 6,092,312
19,220,114 French Franc, maturing 01/15/99, at 3.150%
(cost $3,428,868)...................................... 3,436,556
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Total foreign time deposits (cost $9,524,587)............ 9,528,868
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GOLD OPTIONS -- 0.56%
15,000 Gold Bullion March 1999 300 Call......................... 45,000
15,000 Gold Bullion April 1999 310 Call....................... 26,250
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Total gold options (cost $261,107)....................... 71,250
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Total investments (cost $15,291,714)..................... 12,277,630
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CASH & OTHER ASSETS, LESS LIABILITIES -- 3.58%..................... 456,574
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Total Net Assets........................................$12,734,204
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* Non income producing security
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ANCHOR GOLD AND CURRENCY TRUST
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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 1998
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1. Significant accounting policies:
Anchor Gold and Currency Trust, a Massachusetts business trust (the "Trust"),
is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, as a
non-diversified, closed-end investment management company. The following is a
summary of significant accounting policies followed by the Trust which are in
conformity with those generally accepted in the investment company industry.
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted
accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions
that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of
contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and
the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period.
Actual results could differ from those estimates.
A. Investment securities--
Security transactions are recorded on the date
the investments are purchased or sold. Each day, at noon, securities traded
on national security exchanges are valued at the last sale price on the
primary exchange on which they are listed, or if there has been no sale by
noon, at the current bid price. Other securities for which market
quotations are readily available are valued at the last known sales price,
or, if unavailable, the known current bid price which most nearly
represents current market value. Options are valued in the same manner.
Foreign currencies and foreign denominated securities are translated at
current market exchange rates as of noon. Gold bullion is valued each day
at noon based on the New York spot gold price. Gold coins are valued based
on valuations published in the Wall Street Journal. Temporary cash
investments are stated at cost, which approximates market value. Dividend
income is recorded on the ex-dividend date and interest income is recorded
on the accrual basis. Gains and losses from sales of investments are
calculated using the "identified cost" method for both financial reporting
and federal income tax purposes.
B.Income Taxes-- The Trust has elected to comply with the requirements of
the Internal Revenue Code applicable to regulated investment companies and
to distribute each year all of its taxable income to its shareholders. No
provision for federal income taxes is necessary since the Trust intends to
qualify for and elect the special tax treatment afforded a "regulated
investment company" under subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code. Income
and capital gains distributions are determined in accordance with federal
tax regulations and may differ from those determined in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principles. To the extent these differences
are permanent, such amounts are reclassified within the capital accounts
based on their federal tax basis treatment; temporary differences do not
require such reclassification. During the current fiscal year, permanent
differences, primarily due to foreign currency gains increasing net
investment income, resulted in a net increase in undistributed net
investment income and a increase in accumulated realized loss from security
transactions. This reclassification had no affect on net assets.
C. Capital Stock-- The Trust records the sales and redemptions of its
capital stock on trade date.
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ANCHOR GOLD AND CURRENCY TRUST
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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 1998
(Continued)
D.Principles of Consolidation-- The consolidated statements include the
consolidated operations of Anchor Gold & Currency Limited of which the
Trust owns all outstanding shares. Intercompany receivables, payables and
transactions have been eliminated.
E.Foreign Currency-- Amounts denominated in or expected to settle in foreign
currencies are translated into United States dollars at rates reported by a
major Boston bank on the following basis:
A. Market value of investment securities, other assets and liabilities
at the 12:00 noon Eastern Time rate of exchange at the balance sheet date.
B. Purchases and sales of investment securities, income and expenses at
the rate of exchange prevailing on the respective dates of such
transactions (or at an average rate if significant rate fluctuations have
not occurred). The Trust does not isolate that portion of the results of
operations resulting from changes in foreign exchange rates on investments
from the fluctuations arising from changes in market prices of securities
held. Such fluctuations are included with the net realized and unrealized
gain or loss from investments. Reported net realized foreign exchange gains
or losses arise from sales and maturities of short term securities, sales
of foreign currencies, currency gains or losses realized between the trade
and settlement dates on securities transactions, the difference between the
amounts of dividends, interest, and foreign withholding taxes recorded on
the Trust's books, and the United States dollar equivalent of the amounts
actually received or paid. Net unrealized foreign exchange gains and losses
arise from changes in the value of assets and liabilities other than
investments in securities at fiscal year end, resulting from changes in the
exchange rate.
2. Tax basis of investments:
At December 31, 1998, the total cost of investments for federal income tax
purposes was identical to the total cost on a financial reporting basis.
Aggregate gross unrealized appreciation in investments in which there was an
excess of market value over tax cost was $810,860. Aggregate gross unrealized
depreciation in investments in which there was an excess of tax cost over
market value was $3,824,944. Net unrealized depreciation in investments at
December 31, 1998 was $3,014,084.
3. Investment advisory service agreements:
The investment advisory contract with Anchor Investment Management
Corporation (the "investment adviser") provides that the Trust will pay the
adviser a fee for investment advice based on 3/4 of 1% per annum of average
daily net assets. At December 31, 1998, investment advisory fees of $7,535
were due and were included in "Accrued expenses and other liabilities" in the
accompanying Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities. David Y.
Williams, a Trustee of the Trust, is President and a Director of the
Investment Adviser.
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ANCHOR GOLD AND CURRENCY TRUST
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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 1998
(Continued)
4. Certain transactions:
Anchor Investment Management Corporation provides transfer agent services for
the Trust. Fees earned by Anchor Investment Management Corporation for
transfer agent services for the year ended December 31, 1998 were $6,500.
Certain officers and trustees of the Trust are directors and/or officers of
the investment adviser and distributor. Meeschaert & Co., Inc., the Trust's
distributor, received $32,480 in brokerage commissions during the year ended
December 31, 1998. Fees earned by Anchor Investment Management Corporation
for expenses related to daily pricing of the Trust shares and for bookkeeping
services for the year ended December 31, 1998 were $16,000.
5. Purchases and sales:
Aggregate cost of purchases and the proceeds from sales and maturities on
investments for the year ended December 31, 1998 were:
Cost of securities acquired:
U.S. Government and investments backed by such
securities....................................... $ 14,653,982
Other investments................................ 102,550,784
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$ 117,204,766
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Proceeds from sales and maturities:
U.S. Government and investments backed by such
securities....................................... $ 17,519,297
Other investments................................ 99,945,876
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$ 117,465,173
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ANCHOR GOLD AND CURRENCY TRUST
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INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT
To the Shareholders and Trustees of Anchor Gold & Currency Trust:
We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities of Anchor
Gold & Currency Trust (a Massachusetts business trust), including the schedule
of investments, as of December 31, 1998, the related statement of operations for
the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two
years in the period then ended, and the selected per share data and ratios for
each of the five years in the period then ended. These financial statements and
per share data and ratios are the responsibility of the Trust's management. Our
responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and per
share data and ratios based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and per share data
and ratios are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a
test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial
statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of
December 31, 1998 by correspondence with the custodian. An audit also includes
assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by
management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.
We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the financial statements and selected per share data and ratios
referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial
position of Anchor Gold & Currency Trust as of December 31, 1998, the results of
its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each
of the two years in the period then ended, and the selected per share data and
ratios for each of the five years in the period then ended, in conformity with
generally accepted accounting principles.
LIVINGSTON & HAYNES, P.C.
Wellesley, Massachusetts,
January 19, 1999.
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ANCHOR GOLD AND CURRENCY TRUST
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OFFICERS AND TRUSTEES
MAURICE A. DONAHUE Trustee
Director and Professor, Institute for Governmental
Services and Walsh-Saltonstall Professor of
Practical Politics, University of Massachusetts
SPENCER H. LE MENAGER Trustee
President, Equity Inc.
ERNIE BUTLER Trustee
President, I.E. Butler Securities
MAURICE A. DONAHUE Trustee
Director and Professor, Institute for Governmental
Services and Walsh-Saltonstall Professor of
Practical Politics, University of Massachusetts
DAVID W.C. PUTNAM Chairman
Chairman, Board of Directors, F.L. Putnam and Trustee
Investment Management Corporation
President and Director, F.L. Putnam Securities
Company Incorporated
J. STEPHEN PUTNAM Vice President and
President, Robert Thomas Securities Treasurer
DAVID Y. WILLIAMS President, Secretary
President and Director, Meeschaert & Co., Inc., and Trustee
President and Director, Anchor Investment
Management Corporation
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ANCHOR GOLD AND CURRENCY TRUST
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INVESTMENT ADVISER, ADMINISTRATOR AND TRANSFER AGENT
Anchor Investment Management Corporation
579 Pleasant St., Suite 4, Paxton, Massachusetts 01612
(508) 831-1171
DISTRIBUTOR
Meeschaert & Co., Inc.
579 Pleasant St., Suite 4, Paxton, Massachusetts 01612
CUSTODIAN
Investors Bank & Trust Company
89 South Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02111
INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT
Livingston & Haynes, P.C.
40 Grove St., Wellesley, Massachusetts 02482
LEGAL COUNSEL
Thorp Reed & Armstrong
One Riverfront Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222
This report is not authorized for distribution to prospective investors in the
Trust unless preceded or accompanied by an effective prospectus which includes
information concerning the Trust's record or other pertinent information.
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