Silver Sets New Records At $75, Eyes Best Month And Year Since 1979 - iShares Silver Trust (ARCA:SLV)

Core Viewpoint - Silver futures have surged to a historic $75 per ounce, driven by acute physical shortages in China and a retail buying frenzy, marking a significant rally in the metal's price [1][2]. Group 1: Market Performance - Month-to-date, COMEX silver is up approximately 30%, on track for its best monthly performance since December 1979 [1]. - Year-to-date, silver has gained nearly 155%, the strongest annual performance since the late 1970s [2]. - The UBS SDIC Silver Futures Fund LOF has seen a 187% increase this year, compared to roughly 145% gains in Shanghai-traded silver futures [7]. Group 2: Market Dynamics - China is experiencing a literal shortage of physical silver, leading to tightened conditions in the world's largest silver-consuming nation [2]. - The UBS SDIC fund's manager expressed concerns about potential heavy losses for investors if the bull market reverses, as the fund was trading at a premium exceeding 60% to its underlying assets [6]. - Social media has played a significant role in driving retail interest, with platforms like Xiaohongshu circulating arbitrage tutorials [6]. Group 3: Future Outlook - Robert Kiyosaki suggests that silver could reach $200 by 2026, framing the current rally as part of a larger structural shift rather than a speculative peak [9]. - Economic research indicates that the surge in precious metals reflects a transformation in the global monetary system, moving towards a multipolar order [10]. - Strong industrial demand, particularly from solar panels and electric vehicles, could push silver prices to test $85–$100 per ounce as structural deficits widen [11].