Silver extended its bullish rally Monday, breaking above last week’s high at $48.38 and marking an intraday peak of $48.76. The push brings the critical $49.81 multi-year high back into play, with the psychological $50.00 level now firmly in sight. Silver is riding the coattails of gold’s safe-haven surge, fueled by ongoing U.S. government shutdown risks and mounting bets on Federal Reserve rate cuts.
Friday’s close at $47.99 set the stage for Monday’s breakout, and while bullish momentum remains intact, traders are eyeing resistance levels with caution.
At 12:30 GMT, XAG/USD is trading $48.27, up $0.28 or +0.59%.
Silver’s rally, like gold’s, is finding fuel in the stalling U.S. government and the ripple effect across markets. The shutdown, entering its second week, has blocked key data releases including the September jobs report, leaving traders to rely heavily on Fed commentary for direction.
Market odds for a 25-basis-point rate cut at the next FOMC meeting have risen sharply, with a second cut priced in for December. Fed Chair Jerome Powell and Governor Stephen Miran are both scheduled to speak later this week, and their tone could be pivotal.
With Treasury yields rising and the U.S. Dollar Index gaining ground, the sustained strength in precious metals suggests real demand rather than just short-term positioning. UBS has raised its gold forecast to $4200/oz by year-end, and while no official silver target accompanied that, it underscores the broad institutional interest driving both metals higher.
The $50.00 level has long acted as a psychological ceiling for silver. Historically, the market has struggled to stay above it. With price now within striking distance, traders are bracing for potential exhaustion or a technical reversal.
A close above $49.81 could confirm a breakout, but the risk of a closing price reversal top remains. This pattern could flush out weaker longs and trigger profit-taking, especially if Powell’s tone fails to reinforce dovish expectations.
Immediate support lies at $45.81, with deeper downside risk into $44.22 if that level breaks. A failure to hold above $45.81 would mark a shift in momentum and likely signal a near-term top.
The trend remains bullish, and momentum favors continued upside—but the proximity to long-term resistance demands caution. Price action around the $49.81–$50.00 zone will be key. If silver fails to close above that area, a corrective pullback toward the mid-$40s is on the table. However, a confirmed breakout could spark a new leg higher, potentially into uncharted territory.
Traders should stay focused on Powell’s comments and be ready to reassess positioning if key support levels give way.
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James Hyerczyk is a U.S. based seasoned technical analyst and educator with over 40 years of experience in market analysis and trading, specializing in chart patterns and price movement. He is the author of two books on technical analysis and has a background in both futures and stock markets.