With the Federal Reserve fully intent on throwing more money into the system, precious metals assets are strengthening, and investors have been particularly voracious in taking on silver and silver miner exchange traded funds.
Usually when silver is outperforming gold, it is a bullish sign for the precious metals complex. Silver has been leading the way recently although the metal stumbled to open the week with a 2% setback Monday morning.
For instance, over the past three months, physically backed silver ETFs jumped 23%, including iShares Silver Trust (NYSEArca: SLV), ETFS Silver Trust (NYSEArca: SIVR) and PowerShares DB Silver Fund (NYSEArca: DBS). [Silver Miners 26% Monthly Rally Leads All ETFs]
Silver prices are hovering around $35 an ounce to the highest level in more than six months.
Silver miners are also strong performers in the third quarter, with the Global X Silver Miners ETF (NYSEArca: SIL) rising 25.4% the past three months and iShares MSCI Global Silver Miners Fund (NYSEArca: SLVP) gaining 22.0%.
In contrast, SPDR Gold Shares (NYSEArca: GLD) added 9.9% and the Market Vectors Gold Miner ETF (NYSEArca: GDX) was 15.0% higher over the same period.
Gold futures are now trading at around $1,770 an ounce.
Precious metals prices are rising as a hedge against currency depreciation in light of central bank measures. The outperformance in silver prices provides a strong, bullish signal for the metal.
“While silver trades more volatile than gold, when the fundamentals for the safe-haven trade are in place, it performs extremely well and is affordable for any investor seeking refuge from the equity and bond markets or looking to hedge the dollar,” Dawn Bennett, portfolio manager of the Bennett Group of Funds, said in a Investor’s Business Daily article.
For more information on silver, visit our silver category.
Max Chen contributed to this article.