Silver Extends Decline from 11-Year High
Silver prices sank to below $29.4 per ounce, retreating sharply from the 11-year high of $32 touched on May 28th, tracking a broad decline for bullion as strong economic data in the United States backed a hawkish outlook for the Federal Reserve. Non-farm payrolls rose much more than expected by markets in May, reigniting evidence of a strong labor market and pressuring US Treasuries, limiting demand for non-yielding bullion assets. Precious metals were also lowered by the PBoC halting its streak of gold buying, among the key triggers for the asset class’s strong performance this year. In the meantime, the US imposed 50% tariffs on Chinese imports of solar cells, among the biggest industries for silver in an industrial end, to pressure output in panels throughout key factories in Asia with corporate bases in China. Still, strong demand in the domestic Chinese markets prevented a further drop, underscored by the connection of the world’s largest solar farm in northwestern Xinjiang.