The events of the year 2020 mark the year as one of the most dramatic, monumental years in human history. In the year 2020, many records have been broken and turning points reached. Unfortunately, most of the milestones reached were for all the wrong reasons. There are exceptions among the abysmal events of 2020. The precious metals as an asset class have risen again and made everybody pay attention to it. Will 2021 be the year for silver to shine brighter than ever?
Silver has been viewed as too risky
Silver is marked as riskier than other commodities because of its unpredictable nature – Stephanie Faris of finance zacks.com. For many years the silver market has been regarded as very volatile and the reason for many to shy away from it.
The graph depicts the price of gold and silver against each other starting from 7 January 2000 as a base year. Gold at $281.50/oz and silver at $5.16/oz.
Six years later on 7 January 2006, the gold price was at $538.80/oz and silver at $9.08/oz. A 91.4% increase in gold price and 75.97% increase in silver.
At the end of April 2011 when silver reached $48.70/oz the gold price was $1,565.70. Silver up by 337% and gold up by 155% from the 2000’s.
In the period 2010 to April 2013 the silver price growth was above that of gold. 
From then onwards gold in relation to silver went up and reached an all-time high on 20 Mar 2020, with the price of silver at $12.59/oz and gold at $1,498 /oz. On 20 Jul 2020 the silver price move above of that of gold for the first time in seven years with silver at $19.88/oz and gold at $1,817.70
When you look at price graphs of silver and gold, it is clear that the two metal prices move together. The price of silver moves in tandem with that of gold. When the price of gold rises, the price of silver also rises and when the price of gold falls, the price of silver also falls.
During economic slumps, base metals like copper, and zinc freefall because of the diminished demand by industry. Contrary, the price of silver and gold soars.
Gold Prices vs Silver Prices Historical Chart
Don’t look at the silver price in isolation. Compare the silver price with the gold price.
You can protect yourself against the risk of volatility in the silver market by never looking at the silver price in isolation. As a minimum always compare the gold/silver ratio and let gold lead the way.
In the week of 20 July 2010, the silver price moved above the price of gold in the gold/silver ratio. Silver was bullish from there onwards and above gold, reaching the highest point of $48.70/oz in April 2013. Thereafter the silver price has never recovered to the level of April 2013 again and fell back below gold to reach a record low of $12.59 /oz in March 2020.
During a cycle where silver moves above gold, you must ask yourself what is the reason for this happening? There is a certain point in the gold/silver ratio where it is too risky to buy more silver and it’s time to load it off.
Dow to Silver Ratio
Now that we have established that there is an indistinguishable link between gold and silver, we have to look at what is happening with markets outside of the precious metal market. The interactive chart from macrotrends.com is very informative and easy to use. Head over to macrotrends.com to get the latest information.
The dow to Silver ratio is a number that tells you how many ounces of silver it will take to buy the Dow on any given month.
According to goldsilver.com the prices of gold and silver are inversely correlated with the stock market. This means that when the stock market is moving up, the precious metals are moving down. Gold and silver prices behave opposite to that of the stock prices. When investors have confidence in companies’ sustainability and ability to generate a profit they will channel their funds to the stock market. In times of economic downturn, recessions and political uncertainty investors flock to gold and silver to safeguard their investment value.
It is clear from the graph that in 2020 there is a decline in the cost of the Dow in relation to silver. This suggests that there is a decline in the investors’ confidence in the stock market and that they are transferring money to silver.
World crises, Central Banks and the US dollar
According to the International Monetary Fund, the cumulative output loss over the 2020 pandemic could be around 9 trillion dollars. This will result in the worst recession since the Great Depression and a global shrinkage of 3% in GDP year-on-year percent change. The world’s economies have truly entered unprecedented terrain. Whilst the governments have shut down economies, these governments are required to provide unemployment insurance, bailouts and tax relief. Before the crisis started most of the governments’ spending was already out of control.
The central banks have chipped in their part by providing liquidity and increased fiat currencies at very low-interest rates or no interest at all. Fiat currency is not real money and the global monetary system is on shaky grounds as a result of currency creation. There are signs everywhere that the stimulus packages do not have the desired effects on economic recovery.
The US dollar and precious metals have an inverse relationship. Gold and silver are priced in US dollars. Due to the fact that gold and silver stores value the devaluation of currencies due to inflation result in an increase in silver prices.
The Silver Lining
There are exciting times ahead for silver due to a combination of factors that work in favor of a silver bull market.
Government bonds offer extremely low returns. Where relative good returns are offered like in South Africa there are uncomfortable risk factors to consider like political instability and corruption.
The risk in the stock market is enormous in this state of depression. Most businesses cannot operate normally resulting in weak financial performances by businesses. The large investors are now turning to gold and silver to be included in their portfolios. It would be financial suicide to ignore the safe-haven assets in the current economic conditions.
The global real estate market faces enormous challenges. The first concern is commercial properties that struggle as businesses are closing down due to the crises. The inability of households to service debts can have a catalytic effect. The global house market has been sustained by the stimulus packages. According to Standard & Poor American homes are now 15% pricier than what they were at their peak in 2007. This is just before the financial crises and crash of the subprime mortgage-backed security market. The outlook for the real estate market is uncertain and there are clear indications that the global real estate market is in a bubble.
The Economist – “On a national basis our valuation metrics point to some cause for concern. In Canada, Australia and New Zealand house prices are about 40% overvalued, compared with their long-run relationship with income. In Britain prices are 40% overvalued compared with rents, but look better-valued against income, which suggests that either rent need to fall or prices need to moderate.”
Silver supply concerns
According to goldandsilver.com the mining of silver has been declining for the past years. Mine production is deteriorating and fell for the fourth consecutive year in 2019. The production of silver was less even before the pandemic that halted mining operations. Silver production is deteriorating due to declining grades at existing projects, lack of new discoveries and not enough new mines opening.
Conclusion
There is clear evidence that the recent 7-year highs of silver is not only a silver lining but 2021 may be the year for silver to shine. With the pullback in the price of silver, it is not too late to get a slice of the silver pie.
Comfortable to read and insightful. Thank you for your work