Silver Falls as London Market Squeeze Shows Some Signs of Easing

Core Insights - Silver prices have reached a record high of $53.55 an ounce in London, driven by a historic short squeeze and increased demand for safe-haven assets [1] - The surge in silver prices has led to a global search for the metal, with traders booking expensive transatlantic flights for silver bars to capitalize on price differences [2] - High silver lease rates, exceeding 30% on a one-month basis, are creating significant costs for those maintaining short positions [3] Market Dynamics - A recent spike in demand from India has reduced the supply of available silver bars in London, following earlier shipments to New York due to tariff concerns [5] - Despite precious metals being exempt from tariffs since April, traders remain cautious ahead of the conclusion of the US Section 232 probe into critical minerals, which includes silver [6] - Analysts from Goldman Sachs have cautioned about the potential for a price correction in the relatively illiquid silver market, which is significantly smaller than the gold market [7] Trading Behavior - The premium for silver in London was approximately $1.6 an ounce in early trading, down from $3 the previous week, indicating fluctuating market conditions [2] - There is a noted mismatch between paper contracts and physical positioning in the silver market, as highlighted by industry experts [4]