i Shares Silver Trust

iShares Silver Trust (SLV.IV:NYSE)

If you follow the financial news, you will know that every commodity fortune ever created is the result of supply and demand. New uses for Silver have been mounting up over the last 20 years.

Solar power is the cleanest and cheapest form of electrical generation once installed. Because silver plays a critical role in the use of solar power, the demand for silver  is going to grow even further. The same applies to hybrid vehicles. Silver is required to insure performance in batteries, contacts and switches. Silver is essential to electrical appliances, security systems, telecommunication networks, mobile telephones, television receivers and most computer keyboards. Silver sulfadiazine is used in many hospitals to promote healing and reduce infection. Many bandages you can buy in pharmacies now contain silver too.

World demand for silver now exceeds annual production, and has every year since 1990. The global silver supply is so depleted, that in March 2009 the U.S. Mint halted production of American Eagle silver coins. This sort of supply and demand fundamentals could easily send silver prices soaring!

Silver also offers an excellent alternative to the dollar, and like other  tangible assets, the value of silver and gold rises during inflationary times. That was the case back in 1979. Government spending was high and the fear of inflation sent silver prices soaring 800%.

Forbes magazine ran an article recently that put silver's historical average price at $150 per ounce, after you account for inflation. So, from around $14 per ounce currently, there is a huge possible upside for silver investors.
 
There are many ways to own silver,  bullion, coins silver miners, or via an exchange traded fund.
The objective of the iShares Silver Trust is to reflect the price of silver owned by the trust less the trust's expenses and liabilities. The fund is intended to constitute a simple and cost-effective means of making an investment similar to an investment in silver. Although the fund is not the exact equivalent of an investment in silver, it provides investors with an alternative that allows a level of participation in the silver market through the securities market. We believe this is the simplest and most cost effective way to gain your exposure to Silver.

Buy  iShares Silver ETF (SLV.IV:NYSE) up to $18

* We also have a comprehensive report in the archives on Silver.