- Silver price loses ground as higher US Treasury yields increase the opportunity cost of holding precious metals.
- The demand for dollar-denominated Silver struggles due to the improved US Dollar.
- Non-interest-bearing Silver received support on Thursday after the Fed announced a 25 basis point rate cut.
Silver price (XAG/USD) loses ground to near $31.70 per troy ounce during the Asian hours on Friday. A modest rise in US Treasury yields is adding downward pressure on non-yielding assets like Silver, as higher yields increase the opportunity cost of holding precious metals. At the time of writing, the 2-year and 10-year US Treasury bond yields stand at 4.20% and 4.33%, respectively.
Additionally, the demand for dollar-denominated Silver struggles, as a stronger US Dollar (USD) makes the precious metal more expensive for buyers using foreign currencies. The US Dollar Index (DXY), which measures the value of the US Dollar against the other six major currencies, advances to near 104.50 at the time of writing.
Traders expect potential stimulus measures from China as the National People’s Congress Standing Committee concluded its five-day meeting. Earlier this week, media reports suggested that the potential stimulus package could exceed 10 trillion yuan. As one of the world’s largest manufacturing hubs for electronics, solar panels, and automotive components, China may have increased demand for Silver.
However, prices of the non-interest-bearing Silver gained ground following the Federal Reserve's recent rate cut. The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) lowered its benchmark overnight borrowing rate by 25 basis points (bps) to a target range of 4.50%-4.75% at its November meeting on Thursday.
Moreover, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell indicated that the central bank is proceeding with interest rate cuts, given the ongoing tightness of monetary policy. Investors are now anticipating the release of the preliminary US Michigan Consumer Sentiment, which is expected later on Friday.
Silver FAQs
Silver is a precious metal highly traded among investors. It has been historically used as a store of value and a medium of exchange. Although less popular than Gold, traders may turn to Silver to diversify their investment portfolio, for its intrinsic value or as a potential hedge during high-inflation periods. Investors can buy physical Silver, in coins or in bars, or trade it through vehicles such as Exchange Traded Funds, which track its price on international markets.
Silver prices can move due to a wide range of factors. Geopolitical instability or fears of a deep recession can make Silver price escalate due to its safe-haven status, although to a lesser extent than Gold's. As a yieldless asset, Silver tends to rise with lower interest rates. Its moves also depend on how the US Dollar (USD) behaves as the asset is priced in dollars (XAG/USD). A strong Dollar tends to keep the price of Silver at bay, whereas a weaker Dollar is likely to propel prices up. Other factors such as investment demand, mining supply – Silver is much more abundant than Gold – and recycling rates can also affect prices.
Silver is widely used in industry, particularly in sectors such as electronics or solar energy, as it has one of the highest electric conductivity of all metals – more than Copper and Gold. A surge in demand can increase prices, while a decline tends to lower them. Dynamics in the US, Chinese and Indian economies can also contribute to price swings: for the US and particularly China, their big industrial sectors use Silver in various processes; in India, consumers’ demand for the precious metal for jewellery also plays a key role in setting prices.
Silver prices tend to follow Gold's moves. When Gold prices rise, Silver typically follows suit, as their status as safe-haven assets is similar. The Gold/Silver ratio, which shows the number of ounces of Silver needed to equal the value of one ounce of Gold, may help to determine the relative valuation between both metals. Some investors may consider a high ratio as an indicator that Silver is undervalued, or Gold is overvalued. On the contrary, a low ratio might suggest that Gold is undervalued relative to Silver.
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