The price of silver (XAG/USD) has taken a sharp downturn, plunging to near $23.15 as investors seek safer assets in the early New York session. Market participants are rapidly abandoning the white metal, leading to a decline in its appeal. This sudden shift is primarily attributed to investors reevaluating their bets on early rate cuts by the Federal Reserve (Fed).
Market sentiment has been further dampened by the cautious approach taken by investors ahead of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) minutes and the release of the United States Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) for December by the Institute of Supply Management (ISM). The S&P 500 is also anticipated to open weakly, indicating a decrease in risk-appetite among market participants.
Investors are becoming more skeptical about the likelihood of the Fed reducing interest rates by 25 basis points (bps) to 5.00-5.25% in the upcoming March monetary policy meeting. According to the CME Fedwatch tool, the probability of rate cuts has dropped from 72% to 65%. This change in attitude can be attributed to a reassessment of the robustness of the US economy, which may delay any potential rate cuts.
The price of silver witnessed a significant decline following the breakdown of the Head and Shoulders chart pattern on the four-hour scale. Additionally, the Relative Strength Index (RSI) (14) dropped into the bearish range of 20.00-40.00. These technical indicators suggest the initiation of a bearish momentum in the silver market.
Given the changing sentiment and technical breakdown of silver, it is likely that the white metal will experience further downside. The appeal for safe-haven assets, including silver, has diminished, causing investors to reassess their positions. With the potential delay of rate cuts by the Fed and the positive economic prospects, silver may struggle to regain its previous levels of appeal in the near future.
Investors are closely monitoring the release of the US ISM Manufacturing PMI, which is projected to increase from the previous reading of 46.7 to 47.1. This data point will provide further insight into the state of the US economy and potentially influence market sentiment towards silver.
The silver market is currently witnessing a significant shift in investor sentiment. The appeal of silver as a safe-haven asset has faded, leading to a rapid decline in its price. With investors reconsidering their bets on early rate cuts by the Fed and the positive economic prospects of the US, silver is likely to face further downside.
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