Silver Set for Third Weekly Decline

2026-03-20 02:19 By Jam Kaimo Samonte 1 min. read

Silver rose back above $74 per ounce on Friday but was still poised for a third consecutive weekly loss, as surging energy prices from the Middle East conflict fueled inflation concerns and reduced expectations for interest rate cuts.

Rising energy costs and mounting inflationary pressures prompted investors to shift into the dollar and Treasuries, weighing on safe-haven metals.

The shock to energy markets also forced traders to reassess the policy outlook after hawkish signals from major central banks.

The Fed kept rates unchanged, signaling that cuts are unlikely until inflation shows clear easing.

Meanwhile, the ECB, BOJ, and BOE also left rates steady but struck more hawkish tones, indicating a bias toward tighter policy.

Markets have now pushed back Fed easing expectations to 2027 and are pricing in two rate hikes each from the ECB and BOE this year, further dampening precious metals' appeal.



News Stream
Silver Set for Third Weekly Decline
Silver rose back above $74 per ounce on Friday but was still poised for a third consecutive weekly loss, as surging energy prices from the Middle East conflict fueled inflation concerns and reduced expectations for interest rate cuts. Rising energy costs and mounting inflationary pressures prompted investors to shift into the dollar and Treasuries, weighing on safe-haven metals. The shock to energy markets also forced traders to reassess the policy outlook after hawkish signals from major central banks. The Fed kept rates unchanged, signaling that cuts are unlikely until inflation shows clear easing. Meanwhile, the ECB, BOJ, and BOE also left rates steady but struck more hawkish tones, indicating a bias toward tighter policy. Markets have now pushed back Fed easing expectations to 2027 and are pricing in two rate hikes each from the ECB and BOE this year, further dampening precious metals' appeal.
2026-03-20
Silver Crashes 10% as Hawkish Central Banks Spark Selloff
Silver plummeted over 10% toward $65 per ounce on Thursday, its lowest since mid-December, as the precious metals rout deepened amid Iran war-driven volatility and hawkish central bank shifts. Investors recalibrated expectations after the Federal Reserve, European Central Bank, Bank of Japan, and Bank of England all held rates but struck more aggressive tones, warning of inflation risks and economic uncertainty tied to the Iran conflict. US policymakers signaled no rate cuts until inflation clearly eases, with Fed Chair Jerome Powell acknowledging a hike remains possible, though unlikely for now. Markets now push Fed easing to 2027 and price in two ECB and BoE hikes this year, weighing heavily on silver’s outlook.
2026-03-19
Silver Declines to 1-Month Low
Silver dropped below $74 per ounce on Thursday, sinking to one-month lows as hawkish signals from the US Federal Reserve and surging oil prices weighed on precious metals. The US central bank held its policy rate steady on Wednesday as expected, while flagging upside risks to inflation from the Iran war. The Fed indicated it will not cut rates until inflation shows signs of easing, though it still projects one rate reduction this year. Data on Wednesday also showed US producer prices rose more than expected in February. Meanwhile, oil prices climbed again, with Brent futures exceeding $110 a barrel following fresh attacks on energy infrastructure in the Middle East. Iran launched missile strikes on a Qatari facility housing the world’s largest LNG export plant, one of several targets Tehran vowed to hit after an Israeli strike on Iran’s South Pars gas field.
2026-03-19