Silver Falls to December-Lows
Silver prices fell about 5% to $59 per ounce on Wednesday, their lowest level since December, tracking broader weakness across the precious metals complex. The decline was driven by a stronger US dollar and growing expectations that the Fed will maintain a hawkish policy stance, prompting traders to increase bets on an interest-rate hike later this year. Markets currently assign a roughly 68% probability of a Fed rate increase in September, up from 29% a week ago. Silver and other precious metals also came under additional selling pressure as a sharp decline in US technology stocks led some investors to reduce bullion holdings to help offset losses elsewhere in their portfolios. Silver is now down about 13% year-to-date and nearly 47% below its record high reached in January, before the outbreak of the conflict with Iran.