Best Yet To Come For Silver In 2018

Investing.com - Silver prices may be down so far this year, but analysts still expect the precious metal to post solid gains and possibly even outperform its more expensive rival gold.Analysts say positive market and economic forces are in place to drive silver higher.The U.S. dollar, which has been weakening for the past year, is expected to fall further. At the same time, inflation, which has recently show signs of a revival, is expected to march higher and may actually become a threat for the first time in a decade. On the economic front, solid global growth should increase industrial demand for silver, which is a key component in electronics, medicines and solar cells.Silver futures prices have struggled to hold the $17 an ounce level this year, but the most bullish analysts see a high of $19 an ounce. Retail investors looking to invest in silver have a number of exchange traded funds from which to choose. The largest and most liquid, the iShares Silver Trust ETF (NYSE:SLV), actually owns silver bullion, and tracks the spot price of silver on world markets.