After falling off over December, silver exchange traded funds are starting to pick up and are currently testing their long-term trend line.
The iShares Silver Trust (NYSEArca: SLV) was up 1.9% Thursday and has returned back to its 200-day simple moving average. The fund is down 8.4% over the past month. [Silver ETFs Lead Precious Metals Rebound]
According to BNP Paribas, despite the drop over the past month, physical silver ETFs saw net inflows of 311 metric tons of silver bullion, or a monthly increase of 1.6% over December, Wealth Daily reports.
Silver futures were 2.2% higher Thursday and are up around 1% for the year.
However, Soceite Generale believes silver may experience a lackluster year due to a “lack of bullish triggers,” reports the Wall Street Journal. The bank cut its estimate on average silver price to $31 per ounce from $34 per ounce, or 8.8% – silver currently sits at $30.9.
“In our view, the market over-reacted with the move extended by technical selling,” Robin Bhar, an analyst with Societe Generale, said in a report.
After the price fall over December, bargain hunters are scooping up precious metals at the cheaper prices, Bhar added.
ETF investors can also consider the other physically backed silver ETF, ETFS Silver Trust (NYSEArca: SIVR). Additionally, the PowerShares DB Silver Fund (NYSEArca: DBS) provides exposure to silver futures.
iShares Silver Trust
For more information on silver, visit our silver category.
Max Chen contributed to this article.
Full disclosure: Tom Lydon’s clients own SLV.