Silver Falls 5%, Still Posts Best Year Ever
Silver dropped more than 5% to $72 per ounce on Wednesday, retreating from a record high of $86.62 reached on Monday, as investors locked in year-end profits. Despite the pullback, the metal has surged more than 150% year-to-date, dramatically outperforming gold and positioning 2025 as its strongest year on record. Silver crossed several historic milestones this year, buoyed by its designation as a critical mineral in the US, persistent supply constraints, low inventories, and rising industrial as well as investment demand. Looking ahead, analysts expect silver to remain well supported by strong retail and institutional interest, its growing strategic importance, ongoing supply tightness, and expectations of further monetary easing by the US Federal Reserve in 2026.