Silver retreats toward $65.00 as Oil rebound revives inflation concerns
- Silver loses more than 2% on Tuesday after hitting a seven-week high on Monday.
- Rising Oil prices revive inflation concerns and strengthen expectations of higher interest rates.
- Negotiations surrounding the Strait of Hormuz and US inflation data remain in focus.
Silver (XAG/USD) extends its correction on Tuesday and trades around $65.05 at the time of writing, down 2.31% on the day. The white metal retreats from the seven-week high reached at $66.59 on Monday as rising Oil prices and prospects of tighter monetary policy in the United States (US) weigh on precious metals.
Oil prices have risen sharply since the beginning of the week as negotiations aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz remain uncertain. Iran is conditioning the reopening of this strategic maritime route on several demands from Washington, including the payment of war reparations and the lifting of sanctions.
Some signs of easing tensions are nevertheless emerging. Qatar says on Tuesday that negotiations between Oman and Iran have reached an advanced stage and that it has received positive feedback from both sides. Doha stresses, however, that the talks are at a critical juncture, maintaining uncertainty over the prospect of a swift agreement.
This situation supports energy prices and revives concerns about US inflation. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) trades around $81.20, up more than 5% since the beginning of the week, despite the daily decline. Higher Oil prices are also helping to keep US Treasury yields elevated, reducing the appeal of Silver, a non-yielding asset.
Against this backdrop, investors are increasing their expectations of further monetary tightening by the Federal Reserve (Fed). According to the CME FedWatch tool, markets now estimate a 52% chance of a 25-basis-point interest rate hike at the September meeting, up from approximately 44% the day before.
Comments from Cleveland Federal Reserve (Fed) President Beth Hammack are also fueling these expectations. Hammack said on Monday that current monetary policy “is not hurting the economy” and argued that the Fed will need to raise interest rates more than once to bring inflation back toward its target.
These prospects provide some support to the US Dollar (USD) and represent an additional headwind for Silver. A stronger US Dollar tends to make the white metal more expensive for investors using other currencies, while higher interest rates increase the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding assets.
Investors now turn their attention to the US Consumer Price Index (CPI) data due on Wednesday. Stronger-than-expected inflation could reinforce expectations of a September rate hike and maintain pressure on Silver. Conversely, easing price pressures could reduce expectations of monetary tightening and provide support to the precious metal.
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.