NEW YORK, Dec. 28, 2025, 2:19 a.m. ET — Market closed (weekend)
Sprott Physical Silver Trust (NYSEARCA: PSLV) is heading into Monday’s reopening session with unusual momentum after an explosive post‑Christmas move in precious metals sent silver to fresh records and reignited debate over how far the rally can run.
PSLV, a closed-end trust designed to track physical silver bullion, last closed at $26.04 on Friday, up $2.08 (about 8.7%), with trading volume topping 25 million shares—a notable burst for a fund that often becomes a “go-to” ticker when silver gets volatile.
The key snapshot investors are watching: price vs. NAV
Unlike many ETFs, PSLV can trade away from the value of its underlying bullion. As of Friday, Dec. 26, Sprott reported a net asset value (NAV) of $27.20 per unit versus a market close of $26.04, putting the trust at a -4.26% discount. The trust reported 610,758,275 units outstanding backed by 208,805,141 ounces of silver, with total net asset value around $16.61 billion and a management expense ratio of 0.57%. [1]
That discount matters because it can either narrow (boosting returns versus silver) or widen (dragging returns even if silver rises). It’s one of the biggest practical differences investors feel when choosing between silver exposure vehicles.
Why PSLV jumped: silver’s record run met thin year‑end liquidity
Friday’s surge wasn’t just “silver up a bit.” Reuters reported spot silver breached $77 for the first time, touching $77.40 and trading around $77.30 in afternoon U.S. hours, while gold and platinum also printed record highs. [2] Reuters separately reported silver hitting $78.53 at a record high in the same session. [3]
A big accelerant: thin holiday trading. With many institutional desks already in year‑end mode, markets can gap harder than usual. The Associated Press described Friday’s U.S. stock session as quiet and light, noting NYSE trading ran roughly about half a typical day’s volume—exactly the kind of tape where sharp commodity moves can snowball. [4]
Reuters also pointed to the macro cocktail that tends to be rocket fuel for non‑yielding metals: expectations for easier Fed policy in 2026, a softer dollar backdrop, and geopolitical tension. [5]
What experts are saying now: the bullish case (and the “careful, it’s hot” case)
Reuters quoted Peter Grant, vice president and senior metals strategist at Zaner Metals, who framed the move as both macro-driven and liquidity-amplified: “there is some risk of profit-taking before the year-end, [but] the trend remains strong.” [6]
Grant also put near‑term targets on the table: “$80 in silver is within reach by year-end,” he said, adding upside targets for gold into 2026. [7]
Other analysis outlets are leaning into the same theme—strong fundamentals, but a market that’s running “overheated” on momentum:
- An Investing.com analysis by Shane Neagle described a setup built on tight physical supply signals, structural deficit expectations, and intense investor demand, while also flagging technically overbought conditions and the risk of pullbacks after a vertical move. [8]
- FXEmpire analyst James Hyerczyk argued the rally’s speed can overwhelm traditional “overbought” indicators in the short run, but warned that overleveraged positioning can intensify corrections. He highlighted a $69.50 area as nearby support (based on his technical framework) and said speculators appear to be eyeing a $100 challenge faster than many expected. [9]
- A Wall Street Journal report noted silver’s rare moment of being worth more than a barrel of U.S. crude oil and described a debate splitting analysts—some see room for continuation tied to supply constraints, while others argue the surge could be overdone and point to forecasts calling for a pullback in 2026. [10]
What PSLV is (and what it isn’t): “physical silver exposure,” with real-world mechanics
PSLV is structured as a closed-end trust holding fully allocated and unencumbered London Good Delivery (LGD) silver bars, with bullion custody at The Royal Canadian Mint, according to Sprott’s fund materials. [11]
Sprott also emphasizes that unitholders may be able to redeem units for physical silver on a monthly basis, subject to minimum requirements—one reason some investors prefer PSLV when they want a vehicle explicitly tied to bullion rather than a derivatives-heavy structure. [12]
That said, the trust’s closed-end design is exactly why investors should keep one eye on the premium/discount. In fast markets, PSLV can lag or lead spot silver depending on flows and how aggressively buyers chase the ticker.
A factor many investors miss: share issuance can influence premiums/discounts
PSLV also has a mechanism that can expand the unit count. On Dec. 11, 2025, Sprott announced an update to its at‑the‑market (ATM) equity program to issue an additional US$1 billion of units in the U.S. and Canada, with proceeds intended to acquire physical silver bullion. [13]
In plain English: when issuance is active, it can (at times) help absorb demand and reduce extreme premiums; when demand spikes faster than issuance/market-making can keep up, discounts and premiums can behave in surprising ways.
Market status now: what to know before the next session opens
Because it’s Sunday, U.S. exchanges are closed. PSLV’s next chance to trade will be during NYSE Arca’s next session. NYSE data lists NYSE Arca Equities’ early trading session beginning at 4:00 a.m. ET and the core session running 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET, with late trading to 8:00 p.m. ET. [14]
Before Monday’s open, investors in PSLV typically watch four things:
- Silver’s Sunday-night futures tone (risk of a gap).
Silver has been moving in outsized increments, and Friday’s leap happened in thin conditions—meaning Monday can open with a “gap” if metals reprice quickly when liquidity returns. Reuters explicitly described the backdrop as “thin markets,” a condition that can persist into year‑end. [15] - The trust’s updated NAV and the premium/discount.
Sprott publishes PSLV’s NAV and premium/discount figures, and Friday’s close showed a meaningful discount. If silver stays elevated (or climbs further) into Monday, investors will be watching whether PSLV’s discount narrows or stubbornly persists. [16] - Macro catalysts that move the dollar and real yields.
Silver’s rally has been closely tied to shifting expectations around Fed policy and the dollar. Reuters reported markets were anticipating two rate cuts in 2026, with discussion around timing and the policy outlook feeding volatility. [17] - The year-end U.S. calendar (low earnings, but a few data points).
With New Year’s approaching, scheduled catalysts are thinner than usual. Scotiabank’s calendar highlights Pending Home Sales (Nov.) on Monday, Dec. 29 (10:00 a.m. ET), followed by Case‑Shiller home prices and Chicago PMI on Tuesday, and FOMC meeting minutes on Wednesday, Dec. 31 (2:00 p.m. ET). [18] Kiplinger also flagged the coming week as notably quiet for major earnings releases, a setup that can keep liquidity patchy. [19]
Holiday schedule reminder: New Year’s Day closure is coming
For investors planning entries, exits, or hedges around PSLV, the calendar matters. Investopedia reports that U.S. stock traders have a full day on New Year’s Eve (Dec. 31), while both stock and bond markets are closed on Jan. 1, 2026 for New Year’s Day (with bond trading ending early at 2 p.m. ET on Dec. 31). [20]
Bottom line
PSLV is entering the final trading days of 2025 at the intersection of three forces that don’t always coexist: record silver prices, year-end liquidity quirks, and a material discount to NAV that can either act like a tailwind (if it narrows) or a trapdoor (if it widens).
For investors, the key is to treat PSLV as what it is: a liquid, exchange-traded claim on physical silver that can behave slightly differently than spot—especially when the market is sprinting, not jogging. [21]
References
1. sprott.com, 2. www.reuters.com, 3. www.reuters.com, 4. apnews.com, 5. www.reuters.com, 6. www.reuters.com, 7. www.reuters.com, 8. www.investing.com, 9. www.fxempire.com, 10. www.wsj.com, 11. sprott.com, 12. sprott.com, 13. www.globenewswire.com, 14. www.nyse.com, 15. www.reuters.com, 16. sprott.com, 17. www.reuters.com, 18. www.scotiabank.com, 19. www.kiplinger.com, 20. www.investopedia.com, 21. sprott.com
