Silver Price Forecast: XAG/USD hovers near $58.50 amid market caution
- Silver could rebound as softer US inflation data fueled hopes that the Fed might adopt a less hawkish stance.
- Oil prices are driving higher due to renewed US-Iran tensions, keeping inflation concerns firmly on investors' radars.
- Fed Chair Kevin Warsh reiterated the commitment to price stability but refrained from signaling a more aggressive policy stance.
Silver price (XAG/USD) inches lower after registering gains in the previous day, trading around $58.50 per troy ounce during the Asian hours on Wednesday. The price of the non-yielding white metal could rebound as softer-than-expected US inflation data fueled hopes that the US Federal Reserve (Fed) might adopt a less hawkish monetary stance.
The US Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation eased to 3.5% year-over-year in June, dropping from a three-year high of 4.2% in May and coming in well below the market consensus of 3.8%. On a monthly basis, headline CPI actually declined by 0.4% in June, a notable shift from the 0.5% increase recorded in May.
Meanwhile, Fed Chair Kevin Warsh reiterated the central bank’s commitment to restoring price stability during congressional testimony on Tuesday but refrained from signaling a more aggressive policy stance.
The CME FedWatch Tool indicates that markets are now pricing in a roughly 50% chance of a Federal Reserve rate hike in September. This shift comes as renewed tensions between the US and Iran drive up oil prices, keeping inflation concerns firmly on investors' radars.
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.