Silver ETFs Hover Around a 52-Week High: Here's Why

Group 1: Silver Market Performance - Silver reached a new 14-year peak as the U.S. dollar weakened amid rising risks of a government shutdown, with iShares Silver Trust (SLV) gaining about 15.7% over the past month, outperforming SPDR Gold Trust (GLD) which advanced about 9% [1] Group 2: Industrial Demand and Applications - Approximately half of silver's total demand comes from industrial applications, with a 4% increase in industrial demand reported in 2024, particularly driven by green energy initiatives [2] - Silver is crucial in solar power and electric vehicle applications, with China's solar cell exports increasing over 70% in the first half of the year, primarily due to strong shipments to India [3] - The automotive industry's increasing vehicle sophistication and gradual electrification of powertrains are expected to drive higher silver demand [3] - The global rollout of 5G technology is another positive factor for silver, as electronic components for 5G heavily rely on silver [4] Group 3: Economic Factors Influencing Silver Prices - The Federal Reserve's first rate cut of 2025 occurred in September, with an 89.3% chance of a further 25-basis point cut in October and 68.2% expecting another cut in December, influenced by a softer labor market [5] - Continued policy easing by the Fed could weaken the U.S. dollar, which typically boosts silver prices, as evidenced by the Invesco DB US Dollar Index Bullish Fund (UUP) declining 7% this year [6] Group 4: Safe-Haven Demand - Silver's appeal as a safe-haven asset has increased amid moderate trade tensions and the potential for a U.S. government shutdown, with rising uncertainty boosting its demand [7][8] Group 5: ETFs and Investment Vehicles - In addition to iShares Silver Trust (SLV), other ETFs such as Global X Silver Miners ETF (SIL), Amplify Junior Silver Miners ETF (SILJ), and abrdn Physical Silver Shares ETF (SIVR) are also performing well, hovering around 52-week highs [9]