What Drives the Price of Silver?
Silver is a commodity, and like any other commodity, its price is a reflection of current supply and demand. Silver is somewhat unique in the precious metals space, however, as its value may be driven not only by investment demand but also industrial demand. This allows silver to potentially experience the best of both worlds. In a strong economy, industrial demand for silver may heat up and potentially drive prices higher. In a slow economy, or during times of risk aversion, silver may potentially benefit from investment demand as investors look for perceived safe havens to put capital to work in. Here, we examine the various factors that affect the Silver price.
read morePossibility of Retun to the Golden Standard
In recent years, there has been seemingly more and more debate about the feasibility of returning to the gold standard. As concerns over the U.S. dollar mount, there may be further talk of such ideas, although whether or not they make sense and could be actually implemented is highly debatable.
read moreThe Chinese Demand for Gold
China is the world’s second largest economy, and has taken steps to cement its place among the economic elite of the world. One of those steps has been the acquiring of gold. The country appears to have an insatiable appetite for the yellow metal, and has been building its gold reserves in recent years.
read moreHow Can I Diversify my Precious Metals Holdings?
Diversification is the careful consideration and combination of a wide range of investments within a portfolio in an attempt to smooth overall volatility. Diversification is a broad term, however, and can be accomplished in different ways. Here, we will examine how this investment technique pertains to investing in precious metals.
read moreWhat is Qualitative Easing and How does it affect Markets?
Quantitative easing, affectionately referred to as “QE”, is a term that has been widely used in recent years. In fact, more people are likely familiar with this phrase than ever before. Given its coverage in the media, and its widespread use, we felt it prudent to provide a simple explanation of what QE is and how it can affect financial markets.
read moreWhat the End of the Stock Market Rally might mean for Precious Metals
Global equity markets have been on a tear in recent years, with the benchmark U.S. SP 500 index having made solid triple digit returns over the span of the last several years. Markets have been climbing since the 2009 lows, and continue to make new all-time highs.
This run higher in the equity markets as well as current valuation levels obviously begs a few questions:
-Will the rally continue?
-Are stocks overpriced at current levels?
-Is this a set up for a nasty correction?
-What has driven such significant upside?
We feel it is important to address some of these questions, as we believe the day will come when equity investors once again run for the exits. In turn, we believe that gold and precious metals could stand to benefit handsomely if and when this does in fact occur.
read moreWhy Use a Depository?
When purchasing precious metals, buyers must take into consideration where they intend to store their gold, silver or other metals.
While many may elect to store their metals at home or in a safe deposit box, this can become more challenging if larger quantities are being purchased. While the accessibility of home storage can be quite appealing, it does also represent a security concern. A safe deposit box, on the other hand, may offer superior security but comes with more limited access.
While using a depository to store your precious metals does not provide immediate access to your metals, it does offer a cost-effective and secure solution to your precious metals storage needs.
read moreThe Top 10 Reasons to Own Gold
While different investors may have different reasons for owning gold, there are several reasons that are very common among gold buyers. Here we will outline the top ten reasons to own physical gold.
read moreIndustrial Use and Demand for Silver
When comparing the various uses of gold, silver, platinum and palladium, silver may have the most industrial uses and possibilities. Silver can be used in various industrial applications across a very wide range of industries. This puts silver in a somewhat unique position within the precious metals complex. Understanding this salient relationship is an important part of investing in silver.
read moreGovernment Mints and Private Mints
When buying precious metals, whether it is coins, bars or rounds, it is important to understand the differences between government mints and private mints. Here, we will outline their key differences.
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