Silver Price Forecast: XAG/USD drifts higher amid rising demand, US critical minerals listing

Silver price edges higher to around $63.75 in Friday’s Asian session.
Rising demand from green technologies and industrial use lifts the Silver price.
The US added silver to the critical minerals list.

Lallalit Srijandorn FXStreet

Silver price (XAG/USD) climbs to near $63.75 and is poised to retest its all-time high during the Asian trading hours on Friday. The white metal extends the rally on rising industrial demand, a weaker US Dollar (USD), and the metal's entry into the US critical minerals list.

The upside for Silver is bolstered by rising industrial demand from vital technology sectors. Saxo Bank analysts noted that sectors such as solar energy (PV), automotive electric vehicles (EVs) and their infrastructure, and data centers and artificial intelligence (AI) will drive industrial demand higher through 2030.

The US Department of the Interior has added silver to its list of “critical minerals,” increasing the likelihood that the white metal could be included in future tariff policies. Large volumes of silver were delivered into US warehouses ahead of a potential tariff announcement next year, causing a dislocation between the US and the rest of the globe and tightening availability elsewhere. This, in turn, boosts long-term demand expectations, lifting the Silver price.

The US Federal Reserve (Fed) cut its benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points (bps) to a target range of 3.50% to 3.75% at its December policy meeting on Wednesday. Markets are currently pricing in nearly a 78% odds that the Fed will hold interest rates steady next month, compared with a 70% chance just before the rate cut announcement, according to the CME FedWatch tool. Fed rate reductions weigh on the USD and underpin the Silver price, as it makes silver more attractive to non-US investors.

Silver FAQs

Why do people invest in Silver?

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.

Which factors influence Silver prices?

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.

How does industrial demand affect Silver 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.

How do Silver prices react to Gold’s moves?

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.

Author

Lallalit Srijandorn

FXStreet

Lallalit Srijandorn is a Parisian at heart. She has lived in France since 2019 and now becomes a digital entrepreneur based in Paris and Bangkok.

AUD/USD consolidates near 0.7000 as USD stays weak

AUD/USD holds steady above 0.7000 during Thursday’s Asian session, consolidating the previous day’s recovery gains from a near three-week low as the Democratic sweep in the US midterm elections and Iran diplomacy hopes continue to weigh on the US Dollar. Bulls, however, seem hesitant as focus shifts to Friday’s crucial US NFP report.

USD/JPY drifts lower to 158.25 on hawkish BoJ Minutes, weak USD

USD/JPY trades with a negative bias for the second straight day on Thursday as hawkish BoJ Minutes, showing members agreed to keep raising rates, and intervention risks support the Japanese Yen. Meanwhile, US midterm election results and hopes for Iran diplomacy keep the US Dollar depressed as focus shifts to Friday’s US NFP report.

Gold consolidates gains around $4,100

Gold now surrenders part of its initial bull run, although it sticks to the $4,100 region per troy ounce on Thursday. The yellow metal extends it recovery on the back of the lacklustre performance of the US Dollar and declining US Treasury yields following the US midterms elections.

The memory trade collapses as Sandisk sheds 17%, Micron sinks to May levels

If Wednesday's stock market rally was a broad vote of confidence in the Democratic sweep of the US midterm elections, Thursday is the other side of that coin. While the AI sell-off already began on Wednesday, it has kicked into higher gear on Thursday. The NASDAQ Composite has swung to a 4% loss in the morning regular session, while the S&P 500 and Dow Jones also shed Wednesday's gains.

NFP stress test: Six payrolls releases, measured in daily-loss limits

Friday's US employment report is usually previewed in terms of the headline number and the reaction in the Dollar. For a growing group of traders, those running funded or evaluation accounts with a fixed daily loss limit, there is a more practical question: how much of that limit can the first hour consume, regardless of direction?

US Dollar breaks below 101.50 as Democrats sweep Congress

The US Dollar (USD) comes under heavy selling pressure on Wednesday, with the US Dollar Index (DXY) falling around 0.5% to trade near 101.35 after sliding below the 101.50 level. The Greenback retreats to its lowest level in four weeks as investors reassess the political and economic outlook following the Democratic Party's sweeping victory in the United States (US) midterm elections.