Silver ETFs Just Crashed Gold's Party— And Took The Cake
Silver ETF Surge: As silver prices hit a 14-year high, investors are increasingly turning to silver ETFs, with over 2,570 tons added since February, tightening the physical silver market and driving borrowing rates up significantly.
Driving Factors for Demand: Key factors fueling demand include silver's relative undervaluation compared to gold, trade tensions affecting supply, its dual role as both a precious metal and an industrial commodity, and ongoing supply deficits projected through 2025.
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- Market Decline: The S&P 500 index fell by 0.94%, reaching a 3.25-month low, reflecting investor concerns over escalating tensions in Iran, which may impact future investment decisions and market stability.
- Surge in Oil Prices: WTI crude oil prices rose over 4% to an 8.5-month high due to threats from Iran to close the Strait of Hormuz, intensifying fears of energy supply disruptions and potential inflationary pressures in the economy.
- Natural Gas Price Spike: European natural gas prices surged more than 22% to a three-year high after Qatar's Ras Laffan plant was targeted by an Iranian drone attack, posing significant risks to global liquefied natural gas supply and market stability.
- Economic Data Expectations: This week, the ADP employment change is expected to increase by 50,000, while the ISM services index is projected to slip slightly, with markets closely monitoring these indicators to assess economic health and potential implications for Federal Reserve monetary policy decisions.
- Stock Market Decline: U.S. stock indexes experienced a decline on Tuesday, with the overall market dropping by 1.02%.
- Index Performance: The S&P 500 fell by 0.94%, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average decreased by 0.83%.
- Hecla Mining Options Volume: Hecla Mining Co has seen options trading volume of 98,225 contracts today, representing approximately 9.8 million shares, which accounts for 41.9% of its average daily trading volume over the past month, indicating a significant increase in market interest.
- High Volume Put Options: Within Hecla Mining, the $10 strike put option expiring on January 15, 2027, has particularly high volume with 9,839 contracts traded, equating to about 983,900 underlying shares, reflecting investor expectations of potential downward price movement.
- Calumet Inc Options Activity: Calumet Inc has recorded options trading volume of 6,249 contracts, representing approximately 624,900 shares, which is about 40.7% of its average daily trading volume over the past month, showcasing active market engagement with the stock.
- Put Options Trading Insights: For Calumet Inc, the $26 strike put option expiring on March 20, 2026, has seen 2,504 contracts traded, amounting to approximately 250,400 shares, indicating a cautious outlook among investors regarding the stock's future performance.
- Stock Market Decline: The S&P 500 index fell by 2.18%, reaching a 3.25-month low, indicating market concerns over the Iran conflict that may lead to decreased investor confidence and increased volatility.
- Surge in Oil Prices: WTI crude oil prices rose over 8% to an 8.5-month high due to Iran's threats to close the Strait of Hormuz, potentially causing long-term disruptions in global energy markets and raising inflation expectations.
- Rising Bond Yields: The 10-year German bund yield climbed to a 2.5-week high of 2.814%, reflecting market worries about future inflation, which may prompt investors to shift towards bonds for safety.
- Economic Data Focus: This week, the market will focus on U.S. employment data and economic indicators, with the ADP employment change expected to rise by 40,000 and the ISM services index anticipated to slip slightly, indicating potential economic slowdown.
ETF Overview: The State Street SPDR S&P Metals & Mining ETF provides exposure to trends in industrial and precious metals, reflecting the health of the U.S. metals and mining sector.
Performance Highlight: The ETF experienced a significant recovery, achieving a remarkable 141% increase during a 27-of-28-week winning streak since last April.
- Market Deficit Intensifies: The silver market is projected to face a structural deficit of 67 million ounces in 2026, as industrial consumption continues to outpace mine supply, indicating strong demand that could drive prices higher.
- Price Forecast Upgrade: J.P. Morgan anticipates silver prices averaging $81 per ounce in 2026, more than doubling from 2025, reflecting heightened demand and supply constraints, which may attract more investor interest in related stocks.
- Historical Data Reevaluation: Americore Resources has uncovered five historic drill holes at its Trinity Silver Project in Nevada, revealing previously unreported silver resources, with Hole SC-4 returning 145.98 g/t silver, potentially significantly enhancing the company's resource estimates.
- Strategic Investment and Expansion: Americore plans to validate resources through historical data assessment and new drilling, while also considering monetizing approximately 400,000 ounces of surface stockpiles, which is expected to generate near-term revenue to support future exploration activities.









