Silver is a precious metal characterized by a metallic gloss white, high reflectance and excellent tolerance to extreme temperatures. But, more importantly, the silver has a high thermal conductivity and is an excellent electrical conductor. Its physical properties make this material particularly suitable for both decorative and industrial uses.
Among the precious metals, silver is the cheapest and most abundant in nature. Today, silver is largely a by-product of the extraction of lead, copper and zinc.
Most silver is currently extract comes from mines in Peru, Mexico, China, Australia and Chile
Today to drive the demand for silver are mainly electronic industries, sectors of photography, jewelry and silverware, and demand from investors.
USI PRINCIPALI
Jewelry and silverware
Due to its malleability, this metal can be used for the production of jewelry, ornaments, medals and even musical instruments such as flutes of the highest quality.
For his outstanding reflectance (almost 100 % after polishing), silver is also used in the production of mirrors and glass.
Industrial and electronic applications
Silver is used in many electrical applications, including switches, contacts and fuses for home appliances such as microwave ovens, dishwashers, televisions and telephones. It is also used in the production of batteries, bearings, and printed circuit boards.
Financing activities
In addition to the physical as well, historically silver has been used as a monetary asset, store of value and investment ” refuge.”
Striking of coins
In the past, silver coins were used as means of payment.
Medical applications
are attributed to silver antibacterial properties. Bandages that emit silver ions are sometimes used for the treatment of burns.
THE SILVER MARKET
The most liquid futures contracts on silver that are treatise on the New York Commodities Exchange (COMEX), which represents Troy 5000 ounces of silver, and the Mini -Silver contract the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT), which represents 1000 troy ounces of silver and can be traded electronically. The Tokyo Commodity Exchange (TOCOM) offers silver futures 181.3 Troy ounces, which is also negotiable electronically.
Although the majority of the trading of paper contracts done in the United States, London remains the principal center of the physical silver market. The spot price of silver is still set daily in London at 12:15 (the so-called ” fixing “) and offers the ability to buy or sell silver to a single set price.
In addition to the dynamics of supply and demand in the fields of industrial applications and jewelry, among the factors that affect the price of silver, there are also:
– Investment
– Any other use
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