London, United Kingdom — The price of silver hit a three-decade high on Thursday as investors kept flocking to safe havens amid geopolitical and economic uncertainty, but gold eased off a record run.
Stock markets, meanwhile, were mixed as traders weighed a slew of issues: massive AI investments, corporate results, US interest rates, the US government shutdown, political turmoil in France and a Gaza ceasefire deal.
The price of silver topped $50 an ounce for the first time since 1993 in the wake of sister safe-haven gold soaring to record highs.
The metal hit $50.1900, while gold retreated after hitting a record above $4,000 an ounce on Wednesday.
“I think it’s a catch-up effect,” John Plassard, head of investment strategy at Cite Gestion Private Bank, told AFP.
He cited concerns about the US economy, prospects of more interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve this year and worries about France’s debt.
“What’s also happening — and this is what gave silver an extra boost — is that we’ve started hearing talk of a shortage of silver,” Plassard said, noting that the metal is used for industries such as solar panels as well as an investment asset.
Gold and silver are seen as safe haven investments in times of uncertainty.
“It looks as if gold may be consolidating after two months of relentless gains,” said David Morrison, senior market analyst at Trade Nation, a financial services firm.
The dollar firmed against main rivals.
On the equities front, the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite and the broader S&P 500 both set new record highs at the start of trading but quickly slipped lower.
US stocks have been resilient despite Republicans and Democrats appearing no closer to reaching a deal to reopen the government as the closure goes into a second week.
“Even the most bullish markets take a break sometimes,” said Steve Sosnick of Interactive Brokers.
Investors are turning their attention towards company results.
Shares in soft drink and snacks giant PepsiCo rose more than two percent after reporting a third-quarter sales increase that beat expectations.
Shares in Delta climbed more than four precent after the airline posted strong profits and offered a bullish outlook on travel demand.
“There are plenty of idiosyncratic corporate news items, but not a lot of broad market excitement surrounding them,” said Briefing.com analyst Patrick O’Hare.
The Paris stock market dipped as French President Emmanuel Macron races to find a new prime minister after the resignation of Sebastien Lecornu tipped the country deeper into political crisis.
The Frankfurt DAX set a new record high.
Ferrari had its worst slump since entering the Milan stock market in 2016, falling almost 15 percent at one point as an update to its 2030 financial guidance disappointed investors.
In Asia, the Tokyo stock market closed up 1.8 percent after business-friendly Sanae Takaichi recently became leader of Japan’s ruling party.
