Silver Price Forecast: XAG/USD falls toward $27.50 on easing odds of a deeper Fed-rate cut
- Silver price edges lower as traders ease back on a deeper rate cut by the Fed in September.
- CME’s FedWatch Tool suggests odds of a 50 basis points cut by the Fed in September have dropped to 50%.
- Israeli forces continued their operations near the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis on Monday.
Silver price (XAG/USD) retraces its recent gains from the previous session, trading around $27.70 during the Asian session on Tuesday. This downside could be attributed to diminished expectations for a 50-basis point interest rate cut by the US Federal Reserve in September.
US Federal Reserve (Fed) in September. According to CME’s FedWatch Tool, the probability of 50 basis points (bps) cut in September has dropped to 50%, down from 85% last week. However, the rate markets continue to price in a 100% chance of at least a 25 bps cut at the upcoming meeting.
Traders are likely to focus on US producer inflation data due on Tuesday and consumer inflation figures on Wednesday, looking for confirmation that price growth remains stable in the United States (US).
The downside of safe-haven metals like Silver could be restrained due to rising geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. Israeli forces pressed on with their operations near the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis on Monday. CBC News cited Palestinian medics saying Israeli military strikes on Khan Younis on Monday killed at least 18 people.
On Monday, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) intercepted around 30 "projectiles" crossing from Lebanon into northern Israel early Monday. The IDF stated that some projectiles landed in open areas, and no injuries were reported, as reported by ABC News.
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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