Posted on 05/04/2011 6:27:30 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
Silver's shine is fading fast, and the market for the precious metal may have reached a top in a speculative, mad dash by ETF investors.
"The last move higher over the last month or so has really been driven by the strength of the retail investment demand, so the levels up here are not supported," said Suki Cooper, precious metals analyst with Barclays Capital.
"At levels above $40, we've seen some concern rising on the industrial demand side. The last leg higher has been investment-driven, rather than fundamentally supported. In that respect, the correction was due. I would say from a demand support point of view, we have levels that have been tested in other metals, but we haven't had a chance to test that in silver," said Cooper. "I think now prices are going to test where physical support comes in."
Silver [SICV1] has tumbled in the last two days, with Comex futures losing 10 percent on Tuesday alone, and the July contract finishing at $42.585 an ounce. Silver came within reach of $50 an ounce last week, and its all time nominal high, just above that level. The popular iShares Silver Trust ETF [SLV] lost more than 5 percent Tuesday, on volume of more than 211 million shares.
Moves by the CME to curb speculative buying with three increases in margin requirements in the last week have helped cool the metal's run.
"When something's on fire, there's lots of finger pointing. You've seen it in oil, and you're seeing it now of course in silver," said John Stephenson of First Asset Investment Management, in an interview on "Fast Money," in response to a question on the increase in margin requirements.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnbc.com ...
Soros
Minor blip. Silver will continue to outperform the progressively devalued dollar. Dollar’s headed for the 60’s. Silver will be over $50 in shot order. When all sell, that’s when it goes up.
Yes, I read yesterday he is dumping his load.
Sorors wants you to sell your Silver. So do the Ghouls at CNBC.
Not so fast my friend. There is a belief, that there will be NO QE3 and rates will rise.
I've been saying for some time that a good way to curb commodities speculation would be increased margin requirements and imposition of position limits on investment banks. We can see here that increasing margin requirements is curbing speculative price increases in silver. We saw how much loose margin requirements could screw up the financial system elsewhere. Why is it allowed in commodities - driving up the price of goods central to day-to-day existance?
Yep. This isn’t about the price of silver. It is about the collapse of the dollar. And now they are basically trying to “badmouth” silver to get it back down. But too many of the people buying it are in it for the long haul.
Dream on, Patti. Meanwhile, I’ll continue to trade my dollars for silver coins. Let’s re-examine the situation in a few months.
There is a basic problem: the amount of physical silver available to be delivered by the COMEX is only enough to fulfill 6,600 contracts.
see also:
http://tfmetalsreport.blogspot.com/2011/05/smells-like-capitulation.html
If they stop QE, the market collapses. They will not do that with Obama’s re-elction coming up. The Fed’s between a rock and a hard place. They had to support the bond and trash the dollar. No change there. Silver to $60 by June.
My thought also. A classic bait move by a big investor like Dr. Evil so he can buy some more metals at a discount from the chumps. CNBC wants you to buy GE, GM, T-bills, and a few 0bama bumper stickers.
Time to buy?
China and India are buying gold and silver like there is no tomorrow. The short attack was done this week because the Asians took a holiday. When they get back, they will buy. The demand is worldwide—and it’s increasing.
. Now I'm wondering about a good point to jump back in? What do you think is a good floor?
Silver has had its margin requirement raised three times in last couple of weeks. When that stabilizes you will see silver continue its rise, albeit, at a slower rate.
All I can say is fundamentals.... Do you see anything regarding our fiscal and monetary policy that tells us that our government on the Federal level is going to CUT SPENDING?
If the answer is no, the next obvious question is this -— if they don’t cut spending, how are they going to FUND what they spend? THis year’s deficit is a humongous $1.6 Trillion and our debt to GDP ratio is fast approaching 100% of GDP!
I can only see the following choices:
* Grow the economy ( It has to be AT LEAST 4% and we’re not even close to getting there ).
* INCREASE TAXES ( why do you think the government have been hiring IRS agents like crazy?). But how do you grow the economy if you do this?
* BORROW
* PRINT MONEY
All evidence I see is this — BORROW and PRINT have been dominant. Will it stop ?
Well, we’ll have to see what this current congress does with the debt ceiling. If they RAISE IT without any fundamental change in SPENDING, then I don’t see how our currency won’t devaluate. And if people lose faith in the value of paper money, where else can they go?
Answer : Stable currencies like the Swiss Franc, Aussie, Canadian. If investors STILL don’t trust these fiat money, I can’t see why they won;t flock to Gold or Silver.
Just my humble opinion.
Regarding what price of silver to get back in, I’m as much in the dark as you are.... BIGGER SPECULATIVE FORCES ARE AT PLAY.
I bought the Silver based ETF, SLV at $18/share and have put a stop limit to sell at $36.00. As of this writing, the price is just above $40.00. If it crosses the $40.00 psychological level, all bets are off, the downward momentum will start.
I’d buy again when a sure upward trend is present. It won’t be these next few days though.
Generally I agree with you—but because of the swift manipulated downdraft, expect a V-shaped first move back up.
Excellent analysis. I agree completely.
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