Gold Silver Ratio
Gold Silver Ratio - Gold Price
Many investors and speculators take attention on the Gold/Silver ratio that helps determine which metal is under or overvalued. Prior to 1900, the Gold/Silver ration should be approximately equal to 16:1. Since 1900, the fluctuation of Gold/Silver ratio is extremely large, the Gold/Silver ratio was as high as 100:1 at the time of 1991, and as low as 17:1 in January 1980.
What is the Gold/Silver ratio?
Gold/Silver ratio, is a ratio of the gold price to the silver price. In other words, it measures how many ounces of silver it takes to buy an ounce of gold. For example, assuming the current gold price is 1280 US Dollars per ounce, and the silver price is 20 US Dollars per ounce, so the Gold/Silver ratio is equal to gold price / silver price, that is 64:1.
How to use the Gold/Silver ratio?
From 1976 to 1980, that period is a bull market of precious metals; the Gold/Silver ratio fell from 40:1 to 17:1. From 1990 to 1991, the precious metals trading are in a bear market, the ratio rose from 71:1 to 100:1. From 2003 to 2008, the silver price rose, the ratio dropped from 80:1 to 45:1.
The above data shows that the Gold/Silver ratio is not fixed. Investors can use the fluctuating ratio to estimate the relative value of silver, which confirms to buy gold or silver in an optimal time. When the ratio is rising, that means the price of gold increases, or the price of silver decreases; as the ratio is falling, it means the price of gold decreases, or the price of silver increase.
Typically, the price of silver drop faster than gold during a recession, and silver will rise faster than gold during a bull market in the metals. In short, the Gold/Silver ratio is larger during a bear market and smaller in a bull market.
Investors can analyze the Gold/Silver ratio to determine if it is the right time to trade gold and silver ETFs, options or futures, rather than purchasing gold and silver bullion or coins. Generally speaking, when the ratio is low, investors tend to favor gold; as the ratio is high, tend to favor silver. Of course, as the investor decides to invest in gold or silver, should consider other costs, especially silver storage costs that is much higher than gold.