#Gate广场五月交易分享 #现货白银周涨10% Silver rebounds! Some are buying and selling in tons, experts: second-half trend may be stronger than gold
On May 13, international precious metal prices fluctuated, with spot gold down 0.56%, at $4,687.65 per ounce; COMEX gold futures up 0.22%, at $4,697.10 per ounce. Spot silver rose 1.09%, to $87.47 per ounce; COMEX silver futures increased 3%, to $88.16 per ounce.
Wind data shows that as of 8:30 Beijing time on May 14, London silver spot prices increased by 0.07% during the day, at $87.5213 per ounce.
Industry observers note: small retail investors and large investors are polarized
On the evening of May 11, London spot silver experienced a strong surge, rising nearly 7% in a single day, with prices briefly approaching $86 per ounce, hitting a nearly two-month high. After the surge, prices slightly retreated, and by May 13, London spot silver was stable around $86.77 per ounce, generally oscillating at a high level.
Jewelry merchants in Shenzhen Shuibei, a core hub for domestic precious metals trading, have long been keenly capturing market changes, with large-scale transactions lively on the floor.
“We traders exchange 1-2 tons of silver every day,” said Mr. Zhu Ao, head of Zhu Ba Xi Gold Jewelry Brand, who has been in the jewelry industry for 13 years.
In his view, after this wave of silver price increases, market sentiment is particularly clear: few consumers come to inquire about buying silver, while many retail investors with silver jewelry and silver bars come to sell and cash out. “Most of them have five or six hundred or even a thousand kilograms of silver. Seeing silver finally rebound gives them hope to cut losses, so they rush to consult on selling.”
In stark contrast to small retail investors eager to exit, large investors holding ton-scale positions have been trading very frequently recently.
“Silver rises by one cent, and a ton can earn 100k yuan; rises by one dollar, and a ton can earn 1 million yuan,” Mr. Zhu straightforwardly said.
He explained that small and large investors have completely opposite strategies: small investors are eager to sell and lock in profits, while big clients take advantage of market fluctuations, buying and selling in tons frequently to seize profit opportunities.
Expert analysis: Silver may continue to outperform gold in the second half of the year
Li Gang, Director of Research at the China Foreign Exchange Investment Research Institute, previously stated publicly that industrial demand supports silver prices. About 60% of silver demand comes from industrial sectors, especially playing a key role in the global green transition and AI wave.
“High-growth industries such as solar photovoltaic, electric vehicles, semiconductors, and data centers are continuously increasing silver consumption, leading to a widening structural supply-demand gap. Under economic recovery expectations, silver shows a stronger amplifying effect,” Li Gang said.
He believes that in the second half of 2026, gold and silver are still expected to be on an upward trend, but short-term risks and volatility will increase.
Specifically, under the backdrop of geopolitical conflicts, inflation disturbances, and high global debt, central banks’ gold purchases and institutional allocations are expected to remain steady. In an optimistic scenario, gold may continue to reach new highs. However, if the Federal Reserve maintains high interest rates due to inflation pressures, it could also lead to a phased correction for gold.
In comparison, Li Gang considers silver’s outlook to be more resilient. Silver amplifies gains during rises but is also more prone to corrections during risk shocks. Overall, silver’s industrial demand remains resilient, and supply shortages are unlikely to change, so its overall performance may continue to outperform gold.
On May 13, international precious metal prices fluctuated, with spot gold down 0.56%, at $4,687.65 per ounce; COMEX gold futures up 0.22%, at $4,697.10 per ounce. Spot silver rose 1.09%, to $87.47 per ounce; COMEX silver futures increased 3%, to $88.16 per ounce.
Wind data shows that as of 8:30 Beijing time on May 14, London silver spot prices increased by 0.07% during the day, at $87.5213 per ounce.
Industry observers note: small retail investors and large investors are polarized
On the evening of May 11, London spot silver experienced a strong surge, rising nearly 7% in a single day, with prices briefly approaching $86 per ounce, hitting a nearly two-month high. After the surge, prices slightly retreated, and by May 13, London spot silver was stable around $86.77 per ounce, generally oscillating at a high level.
Jewelry merchants in Shenzhen Shuibei, a core hub for domestic precious metals trading, have long been keenly capturing market changes, with large-scale transactions lively on the floor.
“We traders exchange 1-2 tons of silver every day,” said Mr. Zhu Ao, head of Zhu Ba Xi Gold Jewelry Brand, who has been in the jewelry industry for 13 years.
In his view, after this wave of silver price increases, market sentiment is particularly clear: few consumers come to inquire about buying silver, while many retail investors with silver jewelry and silver bars come to sell and cash out. “Most of them have five or six hundred or even a thousand kilograms of silver. Seeing silver finally rebound gives them hope to cut losses, so they rush to consult on selling.”
In stark contrast to small retail investors eager to exit, large investors holding ton-scale positions have been trading very frequently recently.
“Silver rises by one cent, and a ton can earn 100k yuan; rises by one dollar, and a ton can earn 1 million yuan,” Mr. Zhu straightforwardly said.
He explained that small and large investors have completely opposite strategies: small investors are eager to sell and lock in profits, while big clients take advantage of market fluctuations, buying and selling in tons frequently to seize profit opportunities.
Expert analysis: Silver may continue to outperform gold in the second half of the year
Li Gang, Director of Research at the China Foreign Exchange Investment Research Institute, previously stated publicly that industrial demand supports silver prices. About 60% of silver demand comes from industrial sectors, especially playing a key role in the global green transition and AI wave.
“High-growth industries such as solar photovoltaic, electric vehicles, semiconductors, and data centers are continuously increasing silver consumption, leading to a widening structural supply-demand gap. Under economic recovery expectations, silver shows a stronger amplifying effect,” Li Gang said.
He believes that in the second half of 2026, gold and silver are still expected to be on an upward trend, but short-term risks and volatility will increase.
Specifically, under the backdrop of geopolitical conflicts, inflation disturbances, and high global debt, central banks’ gold purchases and institutional allocations are expected to remain steady. In an optimistic scenario, gold may continue to reach new highs. However, if the Federal Reserve maintains high interest rates due to inflation pressures, it could also lead to a phased correction for gold.
In comparison, Li Gang considers silver’s outlook to be more resilient. Silver amplifies gains during rises but is also more prone to corrections during risk shocks. Overall, silver’s industrial demand remains resilient, and supply shortages are unlikely to change, so its overall performance may continue to outperform gold.
