Precious Metals Futures Plunge Amid Market Turmoil
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Jan 30 2026
0mins
Should l Buy PAAS?
Source: stocktwits
- Silver Price Crash: March 2026 silver futures plummeted 19% to $91.88 per ounce, reflecting a strong sell-off in the precious metals market that could further erode investor confidence.
- Gold Futures Decline: February 2026 gold futures fell 6.6% to $4,970 per ounce, indicating a weakening appeal of gold as a safe-haven asset amid market turmoil, which may impact future investment decisions.
- Dollar Index Rises: The dollar index (DXY) climbed 0.9% to 97, driven by reports of Trump potentially nominating Kevin Warsh as the next Fed chair, altering market expectations for future monetary policy and possibly putting additional pressure on precious metal prices.
- ETF Performance Declines: The iShares Silver Trust (SLV) slid to its lowest since January 16, with year-to-date gains shrinking from 56% to 22%, while the SPDR Gold Shares ETF's gains fell to 12.6%, indicating a diminishing investor confidence in precious metals.
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Analyst Views on PAAS
Wall Street analysts forecast PAAS stock price to fall
6 Analyst Rating
4 Buy
2 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 55.580
Low
43.19
Averages
49.70
High
55.00
Current: 55.580
Low
43.19
Averages
49.70
High
55.00
About PAAS
Pan American Silver Corp. is a producer of silver and gold in the Americas, operating mines in Canada, Mexico, Peru, Brazil, Bolivia, Chile and Argentina. It owns a 100% interest in the Escobal mine in Guatemala, and it holds interests in exploration and development projects. Its segments include Silver, Gold and Other. Silver segment includes operations of La Colorada, Huaron, San Vicente, Cerro Moro, La Colorada Skarn, Navidad and Escobal. Gold segment includes operations in Dolores, Shahuindo, Timmins, Jacobina, El Penon and Minera Florida. La Colorada mine produces silver-rich lead and zinc concentrates from a flotation plant treating sulfide ore. Huaron mine produces silver-rich zinc, lead and copper concentrates using floatation technology. It owns 44% joint venture interest in the Juanicipio silver mine in Zacatecas, Mexico, operated by Fresnillo plc, along with 100% ownership of the Larder exploration project and a 100% earn-in interest in the Deer Trail exploration project.
About the author

Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
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- Expansion Overview: Pan American Silver has unveiled a preliminary economic assessment for its La Colorada mine, outlining a $1.9 billion expansion plan that aims to transform the site into one of the world's largest silver operations, reflecting the company's strong confidence in the future silver market.
- Production Capacity Increase: The new processing plant, with a capacity of 15,000 metric tons per day, will operate alongside the existing vein mine, projecting an average silver production of 15.8 million ounces annually during the first five years of full operation starting in 2034, further solidifying the company's leadership in the silver market.
- Financial Forecast: The initial capital for the project is forecasted at $1.9 billion, with an after-tax net present value of $2.6 billion and an internal rate of return of 17%, showcasing significant cost optimization and investment return potential compared to the 2023 version which estimated costs at approximately $2.8 billion with a $2.2 billion NPV.
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- Capital Investment and Returns: The project requires an initial capital expenditure of $1.9 billion, with an expected after-tax net present value of $2.6 billion and an internal rate of return of 17% based on long-term metal price assumptions, indicating strong investment return potential.
- Production Expansion Plans: The La Colorada mine will continue operations while a new 15,000 tpd processing plant is constructed, expected to achieve higher average annual production of silver, zinc, and lead post-project completion, further solidifying the company's market position.
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- Technical Analysis Tool: Comparing the latest share price to the 200-day moving average serves as a useful technical analysis technique, aiding investors in assessing price trends and potential buy or sell opportunities.
- ETF Trading Mechanism: Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) trade like stocks, where investors buy and sell 'units' that can be created or destroyed based on investor demand, impacting liquidity and market performance.
- Inflows and Outflows Monitoring: Weekly monitoring of changes in ETF shares outstanding helps identify those experiencing notable inflows (new units created) or outflows (old units destroyed), which can significantly affect the performance of the underlying stocks held within the ETFs.
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- Silver Price Plunge: Silver futures for May 2026 deliveries dropped nearly 13% to $67.7, reflecting market concerns over future demand, which could push prices back toward $40, undermining investor confidence.
- Gold Price Decline: Spot gold prices fell below the 100-day moving average for the first time, dropping to around $4,562, marking a 20% decline from the January 2026 peak, indicating a waning investment appeal for gold.
- Fed's Hawkish Signals: Hawkish comments from Fed Chair Jerome Powell intensified market pressure, as a stronger dollar made gold more expensive for global buyers, further suppressing demand for the metal.
- Mining Stocks Drop: Shares of silver miners like Pan American Silver Corp. and Hecla Mining fell over 11%, while gold miners Newmont Corp. and Barrick Gold saw approximately 9% declines, reflecting the market's bearish sentiment towards precious metals.
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