On the flipside, silver-related ETFs were the worst performers this year. The PowerShares DB Silver Fund (NYSEArca: DBS), which tracks silver futures contracts, declined 21.5% year-to-date, while physically backed iShares Silver Trust (NYSEArca: SLV) fell 19.4% and ETFS Physical Silver Shares (NYSEArca: SIVR) dropped 19.3%. Comex silver futures were trading around $16.0 per ounce Wednesday.
Precious metals were rising Wednesday ahead of the Federal Open Market Committee’s announcement. The metals have been under pressure over the past week as traders anticipated the Fed would hint at higher interest rates, despite precious metals’ safe-haven appeal during volatile conditions.
ETFS Physical Palladium Shares
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