The silver price has gone through another volatile week after falling from highs near $88 toward the $74–$76 region. Traders rushed to lock in profits as real yields climbed, the U.S. dollar strengthened, and concerns around global tensions pushed investors into a more defensive stance.
Futures and spot prices moved between roughly $73 and $76 over the past few sessions after silver failed to break above the key $90 resistance area earlier this month. Markets are now watching the $70–$79 zone closely because that range could decide whether silver stabilizes for another leg higher or slips into a deeper correction.
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Silver Charts Point to a Possible Reversal Setup
Trader Bob Coleman pointed to an important technical setup developing across both the hourly and 4-hour silver charts. On the hourly timeframe, the silver price appears to be forming an inverted head-and-shoulders pattern.
Traders usually treat that setup as an early reversal structure after a correction phase. The chart also shows multiple rebounds near the $73–$74 area, which has started acting as short-term support.
The 4-hour chart paints a slightly bigger picture. Coleman noted that silver may still be building the right shoulder of a larger reversal formation. He also pointed to positive divergence in the Relative Strength Index (RSI). That happens when price action makes lower lows but momentum indicators stop falling at the same pace. In many cases, traders view that as an early sign that selling pressure is fading.
Silver market structure developing. hourly chart has an inverted head and shoulders. 4 hour chart has the left shoulder and head with positive divergence in relative strength…..waiting for the right shoulder to develop. Could see another pullback, ideally looking for 73-74 to… pic.twitter.com/YtQbSSv8Pg
— bob coleman (@profitsplusid) May 20, 2026
The charts attached to the post support that idea. On the hourly chart, RSI climbed steadily even as the silver price tested lower levels several times. The same pattern appeared on the 4-hour chart, where RSI bounced from oversold territory near 30 and started pushing higher. That usually means buyers are slowly returning after aggressive liquidation.
Coleman also explained that many silver call options were “obliterated” after Friday’s decline. In simple terms, traders holding bullish options contracts lost value quickly as volatility pumped and silver failed to hold its highs.
Volatility skew also moved from heavily bullish readings back toward neutral conditions. That matters because it shows traders are no longer paying extreme premiums for upside bets after silver’s failed breakout above $88.
What Is Driving the Silver Price Today?
One big thing pushing silver is the world supply shortage. The silver market has had a supply deficit for six years in a row. COMEX silver inventories have dropped more than 70% since 2020. That means less physical metal is sitting on major exchanges. Even though the deficit has gotten a little smaller, supply is still tight enough to keep a floor under prices for a long time.
Factory demand also helps. Silver is a key metal in solar panels, electric cars, computer chips, and military gear because it conducts electricity so well. Industrial demand still makes up more than half of all silver used worldwide. That is true even though higher prices have pushed some manufacturers to cut back where they can.
People also bought silver as a safe place to put money during the latest run-up. After tensions in the Middle East raised fears about shipping problems near the Strait of Hormuz, investors moved into precious metals. Higher oil prices brought back inflation worries, and that pushed many traders toward gold and silver as a defense.
What people think the Federal Reserve will do also moves silver in the short term. Markets lowered their hopes for big rate cuts after stronger economic data and inflation that would not cool down. That pushed Treasury yields up and made the U.S. dollar stronger. Both of those usually hurt silver because it does not pay any yield.
Related Silver News: Analyst Maps Silver Price Targets: From $81 to $121 – The Path Ahead After Pullback
Large financial institutions are still adjusting price targets higher after silver’s explosive rally earlier this year. HSBC now expects silver to average around $75 per ounce for the year after prices briefly traded above $120 in January. New trading products are also entering the market, including Abaxx’s silver futures contract in Singapore, which aims to meet rising physical demand across Asia.
The Silver price is stuck. The long-term picture looks good. Supply is tight, and both factory use and safe-haven demand stay high. That should push prices up over time. But in the short run, things are messy. Traders are dealing with big options losses, rising yields, and not knowing what the Fed will do next. If silver keeps holding above $73 to $74, technical traders may start watching for another breakout try in the weeks to come.
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