2.0.0.10 false Significant accounting policies 0202 - Disclosure - Significant accounting policies true false false false 1 usd $ false false Shares Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 USD Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 USDEPS Divide http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 2 Significant accounting policies [Abstract] 0 us-gaap_GeneralPoliciesAbstract us-gaap true na duration string No definition available. false false false false false true false false false false false false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false No definition available. false 3 Significant accounting policies 1 us-gaap_SignificantAccountingPoliciesTextBlock us-gaap true na duration string No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false false 1 false false false false 0 0   <div style="margin-left: 0%"> <div style="margin-top: 12pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; color: #000000; background: #ffffff; text-align: left"> <tr> <td width="5%"></td> <td width="95%"></td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td> <b><font style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times">2.  </font></b> </td> <td> <b><font style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times">Significant accounting policies</font></b> </td> </tr> </table> <div style="margin-top: 6pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; text-indent: 0%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times; color: #000000; background: #ffffff"> The preparation of financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires those responsible for preparing financial statements to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts and disclosures. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The following is a summary of significant accounting policies followed by the Trust. </div> <div style="margin-top: 12pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; color: #000000; background: #ffffff; text-align: left"> <tr> <td width="5%"></td> <td width="95%"></td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td> <b><font style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times">2.1.  </font></b> </td> <td> <b><font style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times">Valuation of Gold</font></b> </td> </tr> </table> <div style="margin-top: 6pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; text-indent: 0%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times; color: #000000; background: #ffffff"> Gold is held by HSBC Bank USA, N.A. (the “Custodian”), on behalf of the Trust, and is valued, for financial statement purposes, at the lower of cost or market. The cost of gold is determined according to the average cost method and the market value is based on the price of gold set by the London gold fix (“London Fix”) used to determine the Net Asset Value (“NAV”) of the Trust. Realized gains and losses on sales of gold, or gold distributed for the redemption of Shares, are calculated on a trade date basis using average cost. </div> <div style="margin-top: 6pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; text-indent: 0%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times; color: #000000; background: #ffffff"> The table below summarizes the impact of unrealized gains or losses on the Trust’s gold holdings as of March 31, 2010 and September 30, 2009: </div> <div style="margin-top: 6pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> <table border="0" width="100%" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times; color: #000000; background: #ffffff; text-align: left">  <tr style="font-size: 1pt" valign="bottom"> <td width="75%"> </td> <td width="2%"> </td> <td width="1%" align="right"> </td> <td width="8%" align="right"> </td> <td width="1%" align="left"> </td> <td width="3%"> </td> <td width="1%" align="right"> </td> <td width="8%" align="right"> </td> <td width="1%" align="left"> </td> </tr>   <tr style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom" align="center"> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom">   </td> <td>   </td> <td colspan="2" nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="bottom"> <b>Mar-31,<br /> </b> </td> <td>   </td> <td>   </td> <td colspan="2" nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="bottom"> <b>Sep-30,<br /> </b> </td> <td>   </td> </tr> <tr style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom" align="center"> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom"> <b>(Amounts in 000’s of US$)</b> </td> <td>   </td> <td colspan="2" nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="bottom" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"> <b>2010</b> </td> <td>   </td> <td>   </td> <td colspan="2" nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="bottom" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"> <b>2009</b> </td> <td>   </td> </tr> <tr style="line-height: 3pt; font-size: 1pt"> <td>  </td> </tr>  <tr valign="bottom" style="background: #cceeff"> <td align="left" valign="bottom"> <div style="text-indent: -10pt; margin-left: 10pt"> Investment in gold - average cost </div> </td> <td>   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom"> $ </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="bottom"> 30,103,537 </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom">   </td> <td>   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom"> $ </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="bottom"> 28,463,669 </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom">   </td> </tr> <tr valign="bottom"> <td align="left" valign="bottom"> <div style="text-indent: -10pt; margin-left: 10pt"> Unrealized gain on investment in gold </div> </td> <td>   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom">   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="bottom"> 10,231,294 </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom">   </td> <td>   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom">   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="bottom"> 6,563,463 </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom">   </td> </tr> <tr valign="bottom" style="font-size: 1pt"> <td>   </td> <td>   </td> <td style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">   </td> <td style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">   </td> <td>   </td> <td>   </td> <td style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">   </td> <td style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">   </td> <td>   </td> </tr> <tr valign="bottom" style="background: #cceeff"> <td align="left" valign="bottom"> <div style="text-indent: -10pt; margin-left: 10pt"> Investment in gold - market value </div> </td> <td>   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom"> $ </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="bottom"> 40,334,831 </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom">   </td> <td>   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom"> $ </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="bottom"> 35,027,132 </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom">   </td> </tr> <tr valign="bottom" style="font-size: 1pt"> <td>   </td> <td>   </td> <td style="border-top: 3px double #000000">   </td> <td style="border-top: 3px double #000000">   </td> <td>   </td> <td>   </td> <td style="border-top: 3px double #000000">   </td> <td style="border-top: 3px double #000000">   </td> <td>   </td> </tr> </table> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; text-indent: 0%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times; color: #000000; background: #ffffff"> </div> <div style="margin-top: 6pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; text-indent: 0%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times; color: #000000; background: #ffffff"> The Trust recognizes the diminution in value of the investment in gold which arises from market declines on an interim basis. Increases in the value of the same investment in gold through market price recoveries in later interim periods of the same fiscal year are recognized in the later interim period. Increases in value recognized on an interim basis may not exceed the previously recognized diminution in value. </div>  </div>   <div style="margin-left: 0%">  <div style="margin-top: 0pt; font-size: 1pt"> </div> <div align="center" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; color: #000000; background: #ffffff"> <b> <font style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times"> <sup style="font-size: 85%; vertical-align: text-top"> </sup> </font> </b> </div> <div style="margin-top: 0pt; font-size: 1pt"> </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; color: #000000; background: #ffffff"> </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; color: #000000; background: #ffffff"> <b> <font style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times"> </font> </b> </div> <div style="margin-top: 0pt; font-size: 1pt"> </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; color: #000000; background: #ffffff"> </div> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; color: #000000; background: #ffffff"> <tr> <td width="3%"></td> <td width="97%"></td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td> <b> <font style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times"> </font> </b> </td> <td> <b> <font style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times"> </font> </b> </td> </tr> </table>  <div style="margin-top: 6pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; color: #000000; background: #ffffff"> <b><font style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times">2.2.  Gold receivable</font></b> </div> <div style="margin-top: 6pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; text-indent: 0%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times; color: #000000; background: #ffffff"> Gold receivable represents the quantity of gold covered by contractually binding orders for the creation of Shares where the gold has not yet been transferred to the Trust’s account. Generally, ownership of the gold is transferred within three days of the trade date. As of March 31, 2010 there was $185,653,480 gold receivable and as of September 30, 2009 there was $39,068,311 gold receivable. </div> <div style="margin-top: 12pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; color: #000000; background: #ffffff"> <b><font style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times">2.3.  Creations and Redemptions of Shares</font></b> </div> <div style="margin-top: 6pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; text-indent: 0%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times; color: #000000; background: #ffffff"> The Trust creates and redeems Shares from time to time, but only in one or more Baskets (a Basket equals a block of 100,000 Shares). The Trust issues Shares in Baskets to certain authorized participants (“Authorized Participants”) on an ongoing basis. The creation and redemption of Baskets is only made in exchange for the delivery to the Trust or the distribution by the Trust of the amount of gold and any cash represented by the Baskets being created or redeemed, the amount of which will be based on the combined net asset value of the number of Shares included in the Baskets being created or redeemed determined on the day the order to create or redeem Baskets is properly received. </div> <div style="margin-top: 6pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; text-indent: 0%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times; color: #000000; background: #ffffff"> As the Shares of the Trust are redeemable in Baskets at the option of the Authorized Participants, the Trust has classified the Shares as Redeemable Shares on the Statement of Financial Condition. The Trust records the redemption value, which represents its maximum obligation, as Redeemable Shares with the difference from cost as an offsetting amount to Shareholders’ Equity. Changes in the Shares for the six months ended March 31, 2010 and for the year ended September 30, 2009, are as follows: </div> <div style="margin-top: 6pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> <table border="0" width="100%" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times; color: #000000; background: #ffffff; text-align: left">  <tr style="font-size: 1pt" valign="bottom"> <td width="73%"> </td> <td width="2%"> </td> <td width="1%" align="right"> </td> <td width="12%" align="right"> </td> <td width="1%" align="left"> </td> <td width="3%"> </td> <td width="1%" align="right"> </td> <td width="6%" align="right"> </td> <td width="1%" align="left"> </td> </tr>   <tr style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom" align="center"> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom">   </td> <td>   </td> <td colspan="2" nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="bottom"> <b>Six Months Ended<br /> </b> </td> <td>   </td> <td>   </td> <td colspan="2" nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="bottom"> <b>Year Ended<br /> </b> </td> <td>   </td> </tr> <tr style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom" align="center"> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom">   </td> <td>   </td> <td colspan="2" nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="bottom"> <b>Mar-31,<br /> </b> </td> <td>   </td> <td>   </td> <td colspan="2" nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="bottom"> <b>Sep-30,<br /> </b> </td> <td>   </td> </tr> <tr style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom" align="center"> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom"> <b>(All amounts are in 000’s)</b> </td> <td>   </td> <td colspan="2" nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="bottom" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"> <b>2010</b> </td> <td>   </td> <td>   </td> <td colspan="2" nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="bottom" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"> <b>2009</b> </td> <td>   </td> </tr> <tr style="line-height: 3pt; font-size: 1pt"> <td>  </td> </tr>  <tr valign="bottom" style="background: #cceeff"> <td align="left" valign="bottom"> <div style="text-indent: -10pt; margin-left: 10pt"> <b>Number of Redeemable Shares:</b> </div> </td> <td>   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom">   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="bottom">   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom">   </td> <td>   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom">   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="bottom">   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom">   </td> </tr> <tr valign="bottom"> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom"> <div style="text-indent: -10pt; margin-left: 10pt"> Opening Balance </div> </td> <td>   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom">   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="bottom"> 358,900 </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom">   </td> <td>   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom">   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="bottom"> 246,500 </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom">   </td> </tr> <tr valign="bottom" style="background: #cceeff"> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom"> <div style="text-indent: -10pt; margin-left: 10pt"> Creations </div> </td> <td>   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom">   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="bottom"> 31,100 </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom">   </td> <td>   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom">   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="bottom"> 159,000 </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom">   </td> </tr> <tr valign="bottom"> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom"> <div style="text-indent: -10pt; margin-left: 10pt"> Redemptions </div> </td> <td>   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom">   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="bottom"> (19,100 </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom"> ) </td> <td>   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom">   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="bottom"> (46,600 </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom"> ) </td> </tr> <tr valign="bottom" style="font-size: 1pt"> <td>   </td> <td>   </td> <td style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">   </td> <td style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">   </td> <td>   </td> <td>   </td> <td style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">   </td> <td style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">   </td> <td>   </td> </tr> <tr valign="bottom" style="background: #cceeff"> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom"> <div style="text-indent: -10pt; margin-left: 10pt"> Closing Balance </div> </td> <td>   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom">   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="bottom"> 370,900 </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom">   </td> <td>   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom">   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="bottom"> 358,900 </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom">   </td> </tr> <tr valign="bottom" style="font-size: 1pt"> <td>   </td> <td>   </td> <td style="border-top: 3px double #000000">   </td> <td style="border-top: 3px double #000000">   </td> <td>   </td> <td>   </td> <td style="border-top: 3px double #000000">   </td> <td style="border-top: 3px double #000000">   </td> <td>   </td> </tr> </table> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; text-indent: 0%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times; color: #000000; background: #ffffff"> </div> <div style="margin-top: 6pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> <table border="0" width="100%" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times; color: #000000; background: #ffffff; text-align: left">  <tr style="font-size: 1pt" valign="bottom"> <td width="71%"> </td> <td width="2%"> </td> <td width="1%" align="right"> </td> <td width="12%" align="right"> </td> <td width="1%" align="left"> </td> <td width="3%"> </td> <td width="1%" align="right"> </td> <td width="8%" align="right"> </td> <td width="1%" align="left"> </td> </tr>   <tr style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom" align="center"> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom">   </td> <td>   </td> <td colspan="2" nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="bottom"> <b>Six Months Ended<br /> </b> </td> <td>   </td> <td>   </td> <td colspan="2" nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="bottom"> <b>Year Ended<br /> </b> </td> <td>   </td> </tr> <tr style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom" align="center"> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom">   </td> <td>   </td> <td colspan="2" nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="bottom"> <b>Mar-31,<br /> </b> </td> <td>   </td> <td>   </td> <td colspan="2" nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="bottom"> <b>Sep-30,<br /> </b> </td> <td>   </td> </tr> <tr style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom" align="center"> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom"> <b>(Amounts in 000’s of US$ except per Share)</b> </td> <td>   </td> <td colspan="2" nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="bottom" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"> <b>2010</b> </td> <td>   </td> <td>   </td> <td colspan="2" nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="bottom" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"> <b>2009</b> </td> <td>   </td> </tr> <tr style="line-height: 3pt; font-size: 1pt"> <td>  </td> </tr>  <tr valign="bottom" style="background: #cceeff"> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom"> <div style="text-indent: -10pt; margin-left: 10pt"> <b>Redeemable Shares:</b> </div> </td> <td>   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom">   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="bottom">   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom">   </td> <td>   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom">   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="bottom">   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom">   </td> </tr> <tr valign="bottom"> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom"> <div style="text-indent: -10pt; margin-left: 10pt"> Opening Balance </div> </td> <td>   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom"> $ </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="bottom"> 35,054,043 </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom">   </td> <td>   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom"> $ </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="bottom"> 21,471,084 </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom">   </td> </tr> <tr valign="bottom" style="background: #cceeff"> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom"> <div style="text-indent: -10pt; margin-left: 10pt"> Creations </div> </td> <td>   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom">   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="bottom"> 3,382,259 </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom">   </td> <td>   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom">   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="bottom"> 14,408,547 </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom">   </td> </tr> <tr valign="bottom"> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom"> <div style="text-indent: -10pt; margin-left: 10pt"> Redemptions </div> </td> <td>   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom">   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="bottom"> (2,101,348 </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom"> ) </td> <td>   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom">   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="bottom"> (4,081,786 </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom"> ) </td> </tr> <tr valign="bottom" style="background: #cceeff"> <td align="left" valign="bottom"> <div style="text-indent: -10pt; margin-left: 10pt"> Adjustment to redemption value </div> </td> <td>   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom">   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="bottom"> 4,169,492 </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom">   </td> <td>   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom">   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="bottom"> 3,256,198 </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom">   </td> </tr> <tr valign="bottom" style="font-size: 1pt"> <td>   </td> <td>   </td> <td style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">   </td> <td style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">   </td> <td>   </td> <td>   </td> <td style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">   </td> <td style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">   </td> <td>   </td> </tr> <tr valign="bottom"> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom"> <div style="text-indent: -10pt; margin-left: 10pt"> Closing Balance </div> </td> <td>   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom"> $ </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="bottom"> 40,504,446 </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom">   </td> <td>   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom"> $ </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="bottom"> 35,054,043 </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom">   </td> </tr> <tr valign="bottom" style="font-size: 1pt"> <td>   </td> <td>   </td> <td style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">   </td> <td style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">   </td> <td>   </td> <td>   </td> <td style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">   </td> <td style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">   </td> <td>   </td> </tr> <tr valign="bottom" style="background: #cceeff"> <td align="left" valign="bottom"> <div style="text-indent: -10pt; margin-left: 10pt"> Redemption Value per Redeemable Share at Period End </div> </td> <td>   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom"> $ </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="bottom"> 109.21 </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom">   </td> <td>   </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom"> $ </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="bottom"> 97.67 </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom">   </td> </tr> <tr valign="bottom" style="font-size: 1pt"> <td>   </td> <td>   </td> <td style="border-top: 3px double #000000">   </td> <td style="border-top: 3px double #000000">   </td> <td>   </td> <td>   </td> <td style="border-top: 3px double #000000">   </td> <td style="border-top: 3px double #000000">   </td> <td>   </td> </tr> </table> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; text-indent: 0%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times; color: #000000; background: #ffffff"> </div> <div style="margin-top: 12pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; color: #000000; background: #ffffff"> <b><font style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times">2.4.  Revenue Recognition Policy</font></b> </div> <div style="margin-top: 6pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; text-indent: 0%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times; color: #000000; background: #ffffff"> BNY Mellon Asset Servicing, a division of The Bank of New York Mellon (the “Trustee”), will, at the direction of the Sponsor or in its own discretion, sell the Trust’s gold as necessary to pay the Trust’s expenses. When selling gold to pay expenses, the Trustee will endeavor to sell the smallest amount of gold needed to pay expenses in order to minimize the Trust’s holdings of assets other than gold. Unless otherwise directed by the Sponsor, when selling gold, the Trustee will endeavor to sell at the price established by the London Fix at 3 p.m. London time (“London PM Fix”). The Trustee will place orders with dealers (which may include the Custodian) through which the Trustee expects to receive the most favorable price and execution of orders. The Custodian may be the purchaser of such gold only if the sale transaction is made at the next London gold price fix (either AM or PM) following the sale order. A gain or loss is recognized based on the difference between the selling price and the average cost of the gold sold. </div> <div style="margin-top: 12pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; color: #000000; background: #ffffff"> <b><font style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times">2.5.  Income Taxes</font></b> </div> <div style="margin-top: 6pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; text-indent: 0%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times; color: #000000; background: #ffffff"> The Trust is classified as a “grantor trust” for US federal income tax purposes. As a result, the Trust itself will not be subject to US federal income tax. Instead, the Trust’s income and expenses will “flow through” to the Shareholders, and the Trustee will report the Trust’s proceeds, income, deductions, gains, and losses to the Internal Revenue Service on that basis. The Sponsor of the Trust has evaluated whether or not there are uncertain tax positions that require financial statement recognition and has determined that no reserves for uncertain tax positions are required as of March 31, 2010. </div> </div>  <!-- Begin Block Tagged Note false false false This element may be used to describe all significant accounting policies of the reporting entity. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB) -Number 22 -Paragraph 8 false false 1 2 false UnKnown UnKnown UnKnown false true