New York, Feb 7, 2026, 12:01 EST — Market closed
- Silver bounced back on Friday following a sharp drop, though the metal still ended the week in the red.
- CME bumped up margin requirements for COMEX silver futures once more, pushing up the price of leverage heading into next week.
- Monday brings shifting positions into focus for traders, along with the dollar and key U.S. data tied to rates.
Spot silver staged a sharp turnaround Friday, surging 8.6% to $77.33 an ounce late in the U.S. session after sinking below $65 earlier. Despite the jump, prices were still on track for a weekly slide of more than 8.7%. “What we’re seeing in silver is huge speculation on the long side,” said Jim Wyckoff, senior analyst at Kitco Metals. 1
CME Group is hiking initial and maintenance margins on COMEX 5000 Silver Futures, bumping them up to 18% from 15% after business wraps on Feb. 6. For COMEX 100 Gold Futures, margins climb to 9% from 8%, the exchange announced. Futures traders use margins—essentially deposits—to buffer against possible losses; exchanges push them higher when markets get choppier. 2
The difference is significant: traders now have to stash more cash just to maintain their positions. Lately, silver’s swings have been sharp enough that even a minor leverage adjustment can snowball into rapid-fire forced selling or buying.
“Risk appetite does look diminished,” said Ilya Spivak, head of global macro at Tastylive, noting pressure weighing on risk assets. Soni Kumari at ANZ called the pullback “came at the right time” ahead of Chinese New Year, but flagged possible volatility as weaker hands exit the market. 3
UBS SDIC Silver Futures Fund, the lone exchange-listed pure-silver fund in China, dropped to its 10% daily down limit again on Friday—marking five sessions in a row, according to Reuters. Its manager cautioned investors about the risk of “severe losses” if they pay hefty premiums for units. Consultant Duan Shihua pointed to a “perfect storm” created by the fund’s structure and a surge of retail trading. 4
The China fund’s drop highlights how silver-linked products don’t always track the metal, particularly when daily price bands and premiums are in play. Retail-driven flows can snap back fast as volatility picks up—that much is clear.
Still, the rebound leaves a bigger question hanging: higher margins can stall a rally or spark sharper drops if prices falter and traders rush to cover. Silver isn’t just a precious metal, either—it’s tied to industry, and when growth fears or risk aversion grip the market, that connection can drag on its price.
Up ahead: traders are bracing for fresh U.S. economic numbers. The Labor Department drops January’s Employment Situation report on Feb. 11 at 8:30 a.m. ET. Two days later, January CPI lands at the same hour. A surprise in either could rattle rate bets—moving the dollar and real yields, both closely tracked by silver players. 5
