Silver Price Forecast: XAG/USD surges to near $31.00 amid escalated geopolitical tensions

• Silver price advances due to escalated geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.
• Israeli strikes in Rafah on Sunday killed at least 35 people, intensifying pressure surrounding the conflict in Gaza.
• The subdued US Dollar reinforces the strength of the grey metal.

Silver price rises to $30.80 per troy ounce during the European session on Monday. Safe-haven commodities like Silver have gained ground due to escalated geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. According to CNN, Israeli strikes killed at least 35 people in Rafah on Sunday, increasing pressure over the war in Gaza.

Officials stated that ceasefire and hostage talks will continue next week. However, the negotiations between Israel and Hamas have stalled, with both parties unable to reach an agreement due to differences in key conditions.

The surge in the price of grey metal is also attributed to the subdued US Dollar (USD) after the emergence of the positive market sentiment after the softer University of Michigan's 5-year Consumer Inflation Expectations for May was released on Friday.

The UoM's 5-year Consumer Inflation Expectations for May on Friday. It eased slightly to 3.0%, below the forecasted 3.1%. Despite the upward revision of the Consumer Sentiment Index to 69.1 from a preliminary reading of 67.4, it still marked the lowest level in six months. These figures likely contributed to strengthening investors’ sentiment regarding potential rate cuts by the Federal Reserve.

However, recent hawkish remarks by Fed officials suggest that the central bank will maintain higher interest rates for a longer period. Fed Vice Chair Michael Barr emphasized the need for more time to evaluate the effectiveness of restrictive policies, while Atlanta Fed President Raphael Bostic reiterated his estimate for only one rate cut this year. High interest rates dampen the appeal of non-yielding assets like Silver.