Performance at Month End

MERCURY WORLD MINING TRUST PLC
8 September 1999


All information is at 31st August 1999 and unaudited.

Performance at month end with net income reinvested

                          One    Three  Year to     One   Three     Five  
                        Month   Months     Date    Year   Years    Years     
Net asset value          4.9%    20.1%    57.9%  100.9%  -12.7%    -6.0%      
Share price              5.8%    20.8%    52.9%  102.4%  -11.8%   -16.0%    
HSBC Global Mining
 Index (Capital Only)    3.9%    17.2%    47.1%   76.5%  -17.9%   -19.3%      
 

At month end
Net asset value 94.94p  including current year net revenue of 0.77p
Share price:    82.75p  Discount to NAV:                      12.8%
                        Net yield:                             1.5%
Total assets:  £208.8m
Gearing:         14.2%  
Ordinary shares in issue:      192,824,852 
As at 31st August 1999, 233,242,434 shares have been repurchased and
cancelled, including 164,776,700 shares cancelled as a result of the share
tender offer.

Sector                 % Total   Country               % Total
Analysis                Assets   Analysis               Assets         
                                               
Base Metals               36.5   South Africa             29.1
Diversified               22.2   Europe                   18.1
Gold                      16.8   Latin America            17.7
Platinum                  14.4   USA                      11.8
Silver/Diamonds            6.0   Australia                10.6
Industrial Minerals        3.0   Canada                   10.6
Gold Bullion               0.8   Africa                    1.0
Net Current Assets         0.3   Gold Bullion              0.8
                                 Net Current Assets        0.3
                         -----                           -----
                         100.0                           100.0
                         =====                           =====

Ten Largest Equity Investments
Company          % Investments     Country of Risk    
Anglo American             7.8     South Africa
Impala Platinum            6.1     South Africa
Minas Buenaventura         5.4     Peru
Cominco                    5.3     Canada
Billiton                   5.3     Europe
Alcoa                      4.3     USA
Pasminco                   4.1     Australia
Pechiney                   3.5     Europe
Comalco                    3.5     Australia   
AngloGold                  3.4     South Africa
    
                          ----
Total                     48.7
                          ====

Sources: Mercury Asset Management Ltd, HSBC Global Mining Index

Latest information is available by typing 'MAMINDEX' on Reuters, 'MAMI' on
Bloomberg or '8800' on Topic 3 (ICV terminal).