Silver and platinum will outperform gold in 2021 as the economy recovers and industrial demand supports higher metals prices, says UBS

• UBS Global Wealth Management strategists said silver and platinum will outperform gold in 2021 as the economy recovers and industrial demand picks up.
• A greater focus from policymakers on renewable energy and decarbonization in 2021 may also help silver. According to UBS, more than 50% of silver used in industrial applications is linked to solar panels and electronics.
• Meanwhile, gold will struggle to attract sufficient exchange-traded fund inflows to sustain prices north of $US1,900, said UBS.
• The firm sees the asset finishing the year 2.5% below current levels, at $US1,800 per ounce.
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2020 was one of the best years on record for gold, as investors piled into the safe-haven asset amid geopolitical and economic uncertainty. The precious metal even hit a record high of $US2,075 on August 7, 202.

But UBS Global Wealth Management strategists don’t see gold repeating its stellar performance in 2021. Instead, the firm sees other metals— including silver and platinum — outperforming gold during the year ahead.

As the economy improves in 2021, industrial demand will support silver and platinum group metal prices, said UBS. The strategists expect silver prices to reach $US30 per ounce by the end of the first quarter and eventually level off to $US27 per ounce by the end of 2021. Silver is currently trading around $US25 per ounce.

Platinum will rise to USD 1,250/oz by the end of 2021, a 16% upside from Tuesday’s price, UBS forecasted. The firm also said palladium could also hit $US2,900 per ounce in 2021, roughly 21% above current levels.

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A greater focus from policymakers on renewable energy and decarbonization in 2021 may also help silver. According to UBS, more than 50% of silver used in industrial applications is linked to solar panels and electronics.

Meanwhile, gold will struggle to attract sufficient ETF inflows to sustain prices north of $US1,900, said UBS. The firm sees the asset finishing the year 2.5% lower than current levels, at $US1,800 per ounce.

UBS added that ongoing dollar weakness and low real interest rates will keep all precious metals prices elevated in the first quarter of 2021. However, gold will then weaken in the second quarter as the macroeconomic backdrop improves and the Federal Reserve signals it will gradually taper its bond-buying pace.

“We advise investors with an elevated risk appetite to be long platinum and palladium. We also like precious metals for yield pick-up opportunities,” the analysts wrote.

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