What influences the price of silver?
Silver is classified together with the group of metals that include the likes of gold and platinum. These metals are called “precious metals” because of their distinctive features and well as their scarcity. The demand for these metals have always been there however, the price fluctuates all the time. There are a variety of factors that influence this fluctuation of the silver price Melbourne. Here are 5 of some common ones that you need to understand.
1. Supply and Demand
Silver is a valuable metal used in a lot of applications and industries. The problem is, silver is a metal that has to be mined and as such, there is only so much of it that is available. According to the economy and markets, when supply is low and demand is high, the price of any commodity including silver continue going up. Sometimes the price movement is not proportionate to market changes. For instance, announcing a new application for silver might encourage people to buy more and create a pressure in the price of the metal in the short time.
2. Silver Recyclable Scrap
Silver has many uses. Not only is it used in making currency, jewellery or ornaments, it is also used a variety of industries. Silver is recyclable. The demand for silver can also be supplemented by recycling existing silver jewellery, coins and more silver products.
3. Technology
Silver has increasingly been used in the production of new technologies. The price can be affected directly and indirectly by these new technological advances. There has been a notable increase in the use of silver in the manufacturing of photovoltaic systems and other green applications. The growing demand of silver in the solar or green energy industry has contributed to the rise in the price of silver.
4. Economic Movements
People tend to spend a great deal of money on jewellery and other items when the economy is doing great, however, when the market are stagnant and the economy drops, silver purchases are affected. The general health of the economy is a major indicator for silver investors who use it to decide whether they should buy or sell silver it for their investment portfolio.
Like gold, silver is regarded as a safe haven investment. This is because these metals retain their purchasing power better than fiat currency. In times of high national and global economic crises, the price of precious metals usually goes up.
On the flipside, a good and vibrant economy may decrease silver investments but it could boost the demand for silver for the production of jewellery and other products, but this is silver that would not yield greater dividends or generate a lot of income.
6. Inflation
One economic factor that influences the silver price Melbourne is inflation. Silver is a great hedge against inflation. Whilst the economy and the value of fiat currencies may be eroded by inflation, investing in silver is considered as a prudent way to protect against inflation
Investing in Silver
Along with these factors, it is important for you to understand the difference between speculation and investment, as well as short-term and long-term investing. By nature, precious metals react very quickly to short-term factors. Speculators, investors and end-users are always watching rapidly changing trends.
