Silver Price Forecast: XAG/USD rallies near $60 as markets embrace US-Iran de-escalation
- Silver gains more than 2% and trades around $59.45 as renewed demand for precious metals supports prices.
- Hopes of de-escalation between the United States and Iran send Oil prices sharply lower, easing inflation concerns.
- Markets now turn their attention to the Federal Reserve's monetary policy decision on Wednesday.
Silver (XAG/USD) rallies on Monday and trades around $59.45 at the time of writing, up 2.27% on the day. The white metal benefits from a sharp decline in Oil prices following renewed hopes for de-escalation between the United States (US) and Iran, a backdrop that strengthens expectations of a more accommodative monetary policy from major central banks.
Military tensions between the two countries have paused after US Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz said US President Donald Trump had decided to suspend military strikes to allow more time for diplomacy. According to Reuters, an Iranian official also stated that Tehran would halt its attacks as long as Washington does the same.
This development is weighing heavily on Oil prices, with West Texas Intermediate (WTI) falling by nearly 8% at the time of press. Lower energy prices help ease concerns over persistently high inflation, reducing the likelihood of additional monetary tightening and supporting non-yielding assets such as Silver.
At the same time, lower US Treasury yields and a weaker US Dollar (USD) are providing additional support to the precious metal. Investors have scaled back expectations for further interest rate hikes as inflation risks linked to energy prices continue to fade.
Market attention now turns to the Federal Reserve (Fed) monetary policy decision on Wednesday. The central bank is widely expected to leave interest rates unchanged, but investors will closely scrutinize the policy statement and Chair Jerome Powell's remarks for further clues about the future path of monetary policy.
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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