Silver Set for Weekly Fall

Silver fell toward $75 an ounce on Friday and was on track to decline nearly 7% for the week, as escalating tensions between the US and Iran over the Strait of Hormuz drove energy prices higher and intensified inflation concerns. Both sides have maintained their blockades of the strategic waterway, with peace negotiations showing little progress. President Donald Trump also said in a social media post on Thursday that he had ordered the US Navy to “shoot and kill” vessels laying mines in the strait, while US forces also boarded a supertanker carrying Iranian oil in the Indian Ocean. Meanwhile, the US-Iran ceasefire has been extended indefinitely as Washington awaits a new formal proposal from Tehran, while the truce between Israel and Lebanon has also been prolonged by three weeks. Elevated energy prices have heightened inflation risks and bolstered expectations of potential central bank rate hikes, weighing on the appeal of non-yielding precious metals.

Silver fell to around $76 an ounce on Thursday, reversing gains from the previous session as markets continued to grapple with elevated uncertainty in the Middle East and the ongoing blockage of the Strait of Hormuz, which has kept energy prices high and inflation risks elevated. Tehran has maintained control over the waterway, restricting nearly all international traffic and reportedly firing on commercial vessels this week. The US has also upheld its blockade of Iranian ports to intensify pressure on the Islamic Republic, a move Tehran has condemned as a breach of the ceasefire. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump said the current truce would remain in place indefinitely as Washington awaits a new peace proposal from Iran. The metal has faced sustained pressure since the conflict began, as surging energy prices have fueled inflation concerns and raised the prospect of central bank rate hikes. Silver is currently down roughly 17% since the onset of the war.

Silver rose above $78 an ounce on Wednesday, recouping some losses from the previous session after President Donald Trump extended the ceasefire with Iran, although plans for a second round of peace negotiations collapsed. Trump said he would delay further strikes until Iran presents a new proposal and negotiations are concluded. Meanwhile, reports indicated Vice President JD Vance canceled a planned trip to Islamabad for talks after Tehran informed the US via Pakistan that it would not take part in the meeting. Iran also stated it would not reopen the Strait of Hormuz while the US Navy continues intercepting vessels. Still, silver is currently down over 15% since the conflict began. The metal also faced additional pressure from the Senate confirmation hearing of Federal Reserve Chair nominee Kevin Warsh, who pledged to act independently. He called for a new framework to address persistent inflation but did not provide further specifics.