- Indisputably, Indians are so fond of gold and silver that none of the households in the country would be without the much vaunted, aspired, and desired possession. Especially, gold has a special place in the collective psyche of Indians, without which no auspicious occasion is complete. Ask any Indian, or for that matter, families, and gold will always figure in the conversation, attracting passionate participation as well as animated exchange of anything/everything associated with the precious metal. Women in the family would be at the forefront, rummaging through options available for buying gold ornaments with such palpable excitement. Suffice to say that gold and silver are not only an integral part of our existence but also hold a very special place too.
PC: The Times of India – Indiatimes
- With the fast-changing global scenario, where restrictive trade practices and the tariffs being imposed on innumerable products, the demand for gold and, most surprisingly, silver has been astonishing. We know the unhindered clamour for gold among every strata of society in India. But the demand for silver shooting through the roof must be evoking bewilderment as well as apprehension as to where the situation might lead. Silver’s sterling run is not just as a hedge but because it’s used in tech products as an inalienable requirement must have had a huge impact on how things are panning out of late. So much so that a recurring scenario is played out. Imagine going to the bank to buy a silver bar, only to be told they’re all sold out. Yes, it’s silver.
PC: Bullion Hunters
- Several countries are witnessing this scenario in recent times. As gold and silver scale record prices amid a new wave of expected tariff skirmishes and deals, even as the US government remains shut down, investor demand is unsurprisingly all bullish. But the question about silver is not if there’s scarcity but what drove the demand from investors that saw a historic surge since last week, such that it triggered the most unusual and rare phenomenon of spot prices in London, with the market running short on physical silver, beating US futures rates. Demand beats speculation. Though the squeeze in London is easing, it has badly hit India, silver’s largest consumer and importing 80% of demand, bang in the middle of the festive season.
PC: Mintly
- As reported, London saw a shortage of physical silver since Trump’s unpredictable tariffing earlier in the year, traders have shipped the metal to the US. Silver also made its way into Washington’s draft list of critical minerals, a move to secure its domestic supply chains. This list is under scrutiny, which is what sparked bigger fears of possible tariffs. But why is silver, whose price largely moves in the same direction as gold, even a safe haven in volatile times and during economic downturns? Silver has rapidly acquired an edge over and above its value as an investment option. Silver demand is surging for its pivotal role in tech applications – making EV batteries for one. Silver’s gone places gold hasn’t been before, a transition that has well begun.
