By Mike McGlone
ETF Securities / Morningstar (UK)
Silver is the one of the world’s most versatile commodities. Also classified as a currency, silver is one of the world’s best conductors of electricity and heat. Its versatility is exemplified by its use in products ranging from electronics, antiseptics, solar panels, silverware and jewellery. In the commodity ETF world, silver ETF’s have among the lowest expense ratios, notably because silver is a quasi-currency with very low storage costs yet the majority of its demand is for industrial purposes. Demand is increasing rapidly along with increasing global per-capita incomes and rapid electrisation.
Silver Supply: Is There Enough?
Total silver supply has been stagnant the past few years and, unlike gold, total silver bullion inventories have been declining for years. Often viewed by investors as a leveraged play on gold, silver is an attractive longer term portfolio diversifier in our view, with a low correlation to most other major asset classes yet offering protection from currency debasement risk and inflation.
History indicates the recent decline in silver price volatility to the lowest levels in over a decade (at the beginning of May), as measured by 30-day volatility, may be a precursor to a strong price move. In our view, downside risk is limited with industrial demand picking up and supply in decline. With the silver price less than half its 2011 peak and futures shorts already elevated, we believe the next strong trend price move is likely to be up.