芝商所上调保证金引发贵金属“雪崩”，现货白银暴跌近9%

Group 1 - The core point of the articles highlights a significant decline in international precious metal prices, with COMEX gold futures dropping by 4.45% to around $4300 per ounce, and COMEX silver futures falling by 7.2% to $71.64 per ounce, alongside substantial declines in spot silver, palladium, and platinum prices [1][2] - The recent downturn in precious metals is attributed to the Chicago Mercantile Exchange's announcement of margin adjustments aimed at addressing market volatility, with gold futures margin increased by 10%, silver by approximately 13.6%, and platinum by about 23% [1] - Historical precedents indicate that margin increases have previously been used to cool down the market, with a notable instance in 2011 when silver prices fell nearly 30% following multiple margin hikes [1] Group 2 - The margin adjustments by the CME are a response to the irrational surge in precious metal prices, which have risen significantly due to factors such as Federal Reserve interest rate cuts, a weakening dollar, and increased gold purchases by central banks [2] - In the past month, silver and platinum have seen price increases exceeding 40%, with silver's year-to-date increase reaching 140%, surpassing gold's performance [2] - The demand for silver is driven by its dual role as both a safe-haven asset and an industrial metal, particularly due to the rapid growth of the renewable energy sector, leading to a supply-demand imbalance and a decline in global inventories to a ten-year low [2]