Silver hits highest since 1980s, gold sets record: What's happening
Silver prices jumped to $51.24 per ounce this week, reaching levels not seen since the 1980s before slipping a bit.
The spike comes as investors worry about rising US fiscal pressures and an overheated stock market.
Gold also made headlines, hitting a record $4,059 per ounce on Wednesday but easing back to around $3,963 after some profit-taking.
Silver's price surge explained
Silver is up 70% this year, outpacing gold thanks to strong demand from industry, plus more investors jumping in.
The London silver market is tighter than usual, with lower inventories and possible new US tariffs pushing up borrowing costs.
Both silver and gold are getting attention as "safe" assets—people see them (and even Bitcoin) as ways to protect their money from inflation or currency drops during uncertain times.
With global economic worries sticking around, demand for these metals is expected to remain strong.