Silver is used in jewelry and investment as well as electronics and solar cells. This chart tracks a perpetual contract referencing silver, not spot metal or a dated future. It has no expiry and involves funding payments. Industrial demand, investment demand and supply affect its market value.
History and development
Silver developed as both a precious metal and an industrial input. London's silver fixing began in 1897 and was replaced by the LBMA Silver Price on August 15, 2014. A scheduled benchmark provides a common reference for bullion transactions and valuation.
COMEX silver futures began on July 5, 1933. Standardized quality, quantities and delivery terms support price-risk management. This chart follows a silver perpetual contract, not the London benchmark auction or a particular dated silver future.
References: CME: first trade dates · LBMA: precious metal benchmarks
Comparing charts on this board
Pair silver with gold and copper to examine its precious-metal and industrial roles. Alignment with gold directs attention to precious metals; alignment with copper adds an industrial-demand lens.
Distinguish gold-only strength from silver leadership. A rising gold/silver ratio favors gold; a falling ratio favors silver. Align time windows and examine reversals as well as gains.
Official references: CME: gold-silver ratio