SILVER TODAY – Price supported by 20 DMA

Analysis

• Silver has slipped lower after stalling at $17.30 per oz from the 40 DMA and the mid-October lows.
• Price have found scaled-down support, with the 20 DMA ($16.81) providing immediate support.
• The stochastics have crossed lower; however, sentiment is not looking overly bearish.
• Further resistance is expected around $17.30.
• Scaled-down support is seen around $16 per oz, a level that capped prices in the first quarter and where support was found in the June price dip.

Other factors

Monetary policy will continue to overshadow price sentiment in silver – the Federal Reserve holds its long-awaited December FOMC meeting tomorrow and on Wednesday. While a 25-basis-point rise in the Fed funds rate to 0.75% is a virtual dead cert, markets will be more interested in the Fed’s economic projections and particularly how long-term interest rate expectations have changed since the September meeting following the November election result.  

The latest CoT data showed net length among Comex speculators increases for the first time in four weeks, rising 325 contracts or 1% in the week to December 6. Funds/CTAs re-engaged on the long side, adding 2,010 contracts, but this was offset by 1,685 contracts of new shorts. The return of new longs is encouraging but the fact funds have viewed price gains as a short-selling opportunity is not a bullish signal. 

Investment demand has proven mixed recently: 

• ETF holdings stand at 654.8 million oz (basis the funds we monitor), down from a recent record of 674.4 million oz, following recent liquidations from the US-listed iShare platform.
• By contrast, the pace of retail investment demand has picked up somewhat. American Eagle coin sales totalled 3.06 million oz in November. But stronger year-to-date prices have had a negative impact on sales overall, which totalled 37.5 million oz in the 11 months to the end of November, a year-on-year fall of 7.2 million oz or 16%.

Industrial demand appears robust. Silver demand from the photovoltaics industry will rise 11% this year to a record high of 83.3 million oz, according to the latest Interim Silver Market Review from GFMS. Silver demand from ethylene oxide producers is set to remain flat this year at 10.2 million oz after demand doubled last year. But this will be offset by weaker jewellery fabrication demand, which is forecast to drop 8% this year, and from a drop in physical coin and bar sales. Total silver supply is seen falling 3% to 1.0124 billion oz due to reduced output from lead/zinc and gold mines.