Silver, gold surge as Iran bets shift

Group 1: Silver Market Dynamics - Silver prices have shown significant volatility, with a peak of $121.785 per troy ounce on January 29, followed by a drop to $72 on February 16, before rallying to above $82, marking a nearly 6% increase for the week [2][3] - JPMorgan Chase has raised its price target for silver to $81 an ounce, indicating bullish sentiment for the metal in 2026, although it may not reach the highs seen in January [2][3] - The iShares Silver Trust ETF increased by 7.9%, SPDR Gold Shares ETC rose by 1.9%, and Global X Silver Miners ETF was up by 4.4%, reflecting a broader positive trend in related investments [4] Group 2: Factors Influencing Silver Prices - Geopolitical tensions in the Persian Gulf have led to a flight to safe assets, benefiting gold and silver [4] - The ongoing expansion of data centers and computer systems for artificial intelligence applications is expected to sustain demand for silver, a key component in these technologies [4] - The Supreme Court ruling regarding President Trump's tariff plan is not expected to limit growth in U.S. government deficits, prompting central banks to continue purchasing gold and silver as hedges [4] Group 3: Company Performance - Newmont Corp. experienced a decline of 2.6% after warning of a potential decrease in production for 2026 compared to 2025 [5] - Pan American Silver saw an increase of 5.8%, while Freeport-McMoRan was up by 2.6%, indicating positive performance among silver-related companies [7]