Silver price (XAG/USD) extends its gains for the third successive session, trading around $30.80 per troy ounce during Asian hours on Wednesday. A daily chart analysis indicates a prevailing bullish bias for the precious metal, as its price continues to rise within an ascending channel pattern.
Short-term momentum is strong, with the XAG/USD pair trading above both the nine-day and 14-day Exponential Moving Averages (EMAs). Additionally, the 14-day Relative Strength Index (RSI) is positioned above the 50 level, reinforcing the active bullish sentiment.
On the upside, the Silver price could find its initial resistance around the upper boundary of the ascending channel at $31.80. A breakout above this level could boost market sentiment and drive the XAG/USD pair toward its two-month high of $32.28, last achieved on December 9.
Immediate support is located at a nine-day EMA of $30.47, followed closely by a 14-day EMA of $30.32. Further support appears around the ascending channel’s lower boundary at $30.00. A break below this channel would cause the emergence of the bearish bias and put pressure on the XAG/USD pair to navigate the region around its four-month low of $28.74, recorded on December 19.
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.