Silver Rises Over 120% YTD 
Global physically-backed gold ETFs experienced significant growth in April, adding $11 billion and extending their inflow streak to five consecutive months. Total assets under management reached a new high of $379 billion, with holdings increasing by 115 tonnes to 3,561 tonnes. Asian markets led this surge, accounting for 65% of global inflows and setting a record with $7.3 billion in new investments, primarily from China. North American investors added $4.5 billion, while European markets saw modest outflows of $807 million. Trading volumes across global gold markets exploded to $441 billion per day, 48% higher than the previous month, with all market segments seeing significant increases in activity.
Articles
How Margin Hikes Increase Gold and Silver Volatility
Margin hikes can dramatically increase gold and silver volatility — not because fundamentals change, but because leveraged traders are forced to unwind positions. When exchanges like the CME raise margin requirements, cascading liquidations can accelerate corrections and intensify price swings. Understanding how leverage works in futures markets — and how it differs from owning physical metal — is essential for navigating today’s precious metals market.
February 16, 2026
