Spot silver traded at $80.22 an ounce Monday, down $0.58 or 0.82%. Prices dropped about 2% earlier in the day before finding some stability.
Oil prices jumped over 6% Monday. This followed new threats from former President Trump about Iran and renewed fears over the Strait of Hormuz. Such higher energy costs fuel inflation worries and restrict the Federal Reserve’s room to cut interest rates.
A stronger U.S. Dollar Index makes silver more expensive for buyers outside the U.S. Higher yields also make non-yielding metals less attractive. These factors are currently working against silver.
Strong Chinese demand and a global supply deficit still offer underlying support. China’s silver imports reached a record 836 tons in March, according to Bloomberg. Retail investors and the solar power industry are driving this demand.
The global silver market is heading for its sixth straight year of supply deficit. The Silver Institute forecasts a 2026 shortfall of 46.3 million ounces. Silver stocks have already fallen 762 million ounces since 2021. J.P. Morgan still sees silver averaging around $81 for the full year.