The Silver price plunged late in the North American session, down over 3%, and traded at $27.89 after reaching a high of $29.11. Market sentiment turned risk-averse to precious metals, while the Greenback gathered some traction amid falling US yields.
Silver prices retreated after testing the confluence of the 50 and 100-day moving averages (DMAs) at around $29.00-$29.15, which exacerbated the precious metal fall of over USD 1.00.
Sellers gathered ground as momentum turned bearish. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) is on a steepest fall, signaling that the downtrend is strong.
Once XAG/USD dropped below $28.00, the next support would be the August 14 swing low of $27.18. If surpassed, bears could drive the spot prices to $27.00 before challenging the 200-DMA at $26.62/
Conversely, if XAG/USD buyers lift prices above $29.15, the precious metal could remain bid. Up next would be the $30.00 figure.
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.