- Silver price moves higher to near $32.40 as bond yields trade cautiously ahead of the US NFP data for January.
- Investors expect the US economy to have added 170K workers last month.
- Upbeat US labor market data would force traders to raise bets supporting the Fed to keep interest rates steady for longer.
Silver price (XAG/USD) climbs to near $32.40 in European trading hours on Friday. The white metal gains as the US Dollar (USD) and bond yields tick lower ahead of the United States (US) Nonfarm Payrolls (NFP) data for January, which will be published at 13:30 GMT.
Investors will focus on employment data to gauge the Federal Reserve’s (Fed) monetary policy outlook. On Thursday, Dallas Fed Bank President Lorie Logan said she would support holding interest rates at their current levels until the “labor market doesn’t falter.”
The US NFP report is expected to show that 170K fresh workers were added to the labor force in January, fewer than 256K in December. The Unemployment Rate is estimated to have remained steady at 4.1%. Signs of strong labor demand would boost market expectations that the Fed will keep interest rates in their current range of 4.25%- 4.50% for longer. Such a scenario would be unfavorable for the Silver price.
Investors will also focus on the Average Hourly Earnings data, which is a key measure of wage growth. On year, the wage growth measure is expected to have decelerated to 3.8% from 3.9% in December.
Ahead of the US NFP, the US Dollar Index (DXY), which tracks the Greenback’s value against six major currencies, trades subduedly around 107.70. 10-year US Treasury yields tick lower to near 4.43%.
Silver technical analysis
Silver price strives to break above the immediate resistance of $32.50, which is plotted from the December 9 high. The outlook of the white metal remains bullish as the 20-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA) is sloping higher near $30.90.
The 14-day Relative Strength Index (RSI) oscillates in the 60.00-80.00 range, suggesting that the momentum is bullish.
Looking down, the upward-sloping trendline from the August 8 low of $26.45 will be the key support for the Silver price around $29.50. While, the October 31 high of $33.90 will be the key barrier.
Silver daily chart
Silver FAQs
Silver is a precious metal highly traded among investors. It has been historically used as a store of value and a medium of exchange. Although less popular than Gold, traders may turn to Silver to diversify their investment portfolio, for its intrinsic value or as a potential hedge during high-inflation periods. Investors can buy physical Silver, in coins or in bars, or trade it through vehicles such as Exchange Traded Funds, which track its price on international markets.
Silver prices can move due to a wide range of factors. Geopolitical instability or fears of a deep recession can make Silver price escalate due to its safe-haven status, although to a lesser extent than Gold’s. As a yieldless asset, Silver tends to rise with lower interest rates. Its moves also depend on how the US Dollar (USD) behaves as the asset is priced in dollars (XAG/USD). A strong Dollar tends to keep the price of Silver at bay, whereas a weaker Dollar is likely to propel prices up. Other factors such as investment demand, mining supply – Silver is much more abundant than Gold – and recycling rates can also affect prices.
Silver is widely used in industry, particularly in sectors such as electronics or solar energy, as it has one of the highest electric conductivity of all metals – more than Copper and Gold. A surge in demand can increase prices, while a decline tends to lower them. Dynamics in the US, Chinese and Indian economies can also contribute to price swings: for the US and particularly China, their big industrial sectors use Silver in various processes; in India, consumers’ demand for the precious metal for jewellery also plays a key role in setting prices.
Silver prices tend to follow Gold’s moves. When Gold prices rise, Silver typically follows suit, as their status as safe-haven assets is similar. The Gold/Silver ratio, which shows the number of ounces of Silver needed to equal the value of one ounce of Gold, may help to determine the relative valuation between both metals. Some investors may consider a high ratio as an indicator that Silver is undervalued, or Gold is overvalued. On the contrary, a low ratio might suggest that Gold is undervalued relative to Silver.
