Gold and silver ended the month of November in the red, down 2.74% and 5.17% respectively. This comes despite their strong performance in October, driven by monetary policy easing on both sides of the Atlantic, central bank purchases, and a reduction in import taxes in India. A rising U.S. dollar and higher U.S. Treasury yields, which reduced demand for precious metals as safe-haven assets, have reshaped the current landscape in November. Discover the dynamics at play and what they mean for savvy investors.
Gold's Struggle with Market Dynamics
Gold prices have faced challenges recently, although they received some support on Friday due to heightened geopolitical concerns. The post-election surge in the dollar, along with rising U.S. bond yields and strong expectations of tariffs, further pressured the yellow metal, erasing some of its October gains. Despite these headwinds, gold remains a valuable hedge, with central banks likely to continue their gold-buying programs as part of a broader strategy to strengthen reserves amid ongoing financial and geopolitical uncertainties.
Silver Amplifies the Decline
Meanwhile, silver has endured an even sharper decline, creating an intriguing scenario for investors. Over the past four weeks, the white metal has experienced a significant drop, catching the attention of those looking for potential buying opportunities. This decline is particularly notable, as it is twice as severe as gold's, prompting a closer examination of silver's market position.
As with gold, the strong dollar and rising bond yields have reduced demand for silver as a safe-haven asset. Investor sentiment has also weakened due to concerns over a slowing global economy, particularly in key markets like China, and in sectors such as solar energy, which has dampened industrial demand for silver. Despite this downturn, silver's fundamental appeal remains intact, potentially attracting investors looking to capitalize on its lower price point.
Poor Performance of Precious Metals ETFs
Gold and Silver ETFs decreased respectively by 2.97% and 4.05% last week. Notably, the Source Physical Silver P-ETC (LON:SSLV) and the ZKB Silver AA ETF (SIX:ZSIL) witnessed the largest declines: 5.03% and 5.45%. Despite these negative performances, Gold and Silver ETFs recorded positive flows of €29 and €8 million.