Gold-mining exchange-traded funds outperformed bullion as international gold futures reclaimed $4,600 an ounce. The U.S.-listed WisdomTree Efficient Gold Plus Gold Miners Strategy Fund (GDMN) returned 47.60% in the month through the 21st, while RING gained 42.85% and GDX and GOEX each rose 38.60%, according to Koscom's ETF CHECK. In South Korea, HANARO Global Gold Mining Companies, managed by NH-Amundi Asset Management Co., posted a 30.78% total return with dividends reinvested in the month through Aug. 21, the best performance among locally listed ETFs. Analysts linked the rally to concerns about U.S. fiscal health, a weaker dollar, central-bank gold purchases and fading expectations of additional U.S. rate hikes. Miners’ high fixed costs can amplify profit growth when bullion prices rise.