Gold and silver’s $7 trillion wipeout delivers a painful lesson about risk

Core Insights - The recent selloff in gold and silver highlights the importance of liquidity rather than just market direction or valuation [1][4] - An estimated $7.4 trillion in combined market value was erased from gold and silver due to a sharp pullback [2] - Gold dropped 9% from its peak of $5,598, while silver fell 27% from its peak of $121, indicating a significant contraction in global liquidity [3] Market Dynamics - The selloff was not driven by fundamental shocks, as inflation data and policy expectations remained stable [4] - The assumption that defensive assets would maintain liquidity under stress proved to be incorrect [5] - The crowded ownership of gold and silver created an illusion of safety, leading to accelerated selling when volatility surged [6] Asset Behavior - The selloff was characterized as mechanical rather than emotional, with silver experiencing a more significant decline than gold [7] - Silver's market is thinner and more aggressive in positioning, leading to amplified movements during liquidity tightness [8]