华尔街日报：一盎司白银现在竟然比一桶石油更值钱

Core Viewpoint - The price of silver has surpassed that of oil for the first time in 45 years, driven by strong demand for the precious metal and an oversupply of oil leading to lower fuel prices [3]. Group 1: Silver Market Dynamics - Silver prices have reached a record high of $76.486 per ounce, significantly higher than the $56.74 per barrel price of U.S. crude oil [3]. - Demand for silver is robust from both investors and industrial buyers, particularly in sectors like solar energy, where nearly 30% of annual silver production is consumed [4]. - The competition for silver is intensifying as industrial buyers, including those in the solar panel industry, compete with investors who are shifting from gold to more affordable silver [4]. Group 2: Investment Trends - The surge in gold prices has led to increased silver imports in countries like India, where silver is favored by savers [5]. - Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are also seeing a shift, with the largest silver ETF, iShares Silver Trust, priced at $71.12 per share, compared to the SPDR Gold Trust at $416.74 per share [5]. - The supply of silver is constrained, as it is primarily a byproduct of mining other metals, and the global pure silver reserves are nearly depleted [5]. Group 3: Price Predictions and Market Sentiment - Silver bulls argue that the gold-silver ratio is around 60, suggesting potential for silver prices to rise significantly [6]. - Conversely, some analysts predict a decline in precious metal prices, forecasting silver to drop to around $42 per ounce by the end of next year [7]. - The oil market is also under pressure, with expectations of a 21% drop in oil prices by 2025, which could further impact the silver market if the price ratio reverses [8].