Throughout history, silver bullion has served mankind as a primary monetary metal. It is durable, divisible, convenient, has utility value, and cannot be created by fiat.
However, unlike its fellow monetary metal?gold?silver is most commonly used today as an industrial commodity. Industrial demand for silver has grown consistently for the past three decades because of silver's many unique properties, including its strength, malleability, and ductility...its unparalleled electrical and thermal conductivity...its sensitivity to and high reflectance of light...and its ability to endure extreme temperature ranges.
In addition to its industrial uses and qualities, silver is also used in numerous health care products because of the unique antibacterial characteristics that it possesses. The "Silver Bullet" is used by hospitals to prevent bacterial infections in burn victims. Wound dressings and other wound care products incorporate a layer of fabric containing silver for prevention of secondary infections. In a world that is showing increasing concern about the spreading of disease and potential pandemics, silver is increasingly being tapped for its microbicidal qualities. Silver bullion
It is estimated that more than 95% of all the silver ever mined throughout history has already been consumed by industrial use. That silver is gone forever, unrecoverable at any price. In 1900, there were approximately 12 billion ounces of silver in the world. Today, that figure has fallen to about 300 million ounces of above-ground, refined silver. This means that at current prices, it would only take about four billion dollars to purchase all of the above-ground silver in the world today.
Anyone who follows world headlines is certainly aware of increasing and ever-present geopolitical instability. This, combined with the evolving macroeconomic landscape, can be viewed as bullish catalysts for the silver market. Silver's historic role as a store of value and investment, and its increasing demand in an environment where growing industrial use exceeds available new supplies, further suggest a bullish trend for this versatile metal.
Some of the world's leading financial analysts believe that silver is one of the world's most important commodities, with unparalleled investment opportunity for the future. Silver's unique properties, which make it ideal and essential for global industry, create a situation where there is simply no substitute. In addition, silver prices at times have been extremely volatile, making silver an attractive investment and trading vehicle.
CCU Price at posting:
15.7¢ Sentiment: Buy Disclosure: Held
