Silver Briefly Tops $59 an Ounce

Spot silver briefly broke above $59 an ounce on Friday, a fresh record, before giving back some of the gains. The rally coincided with news that U.S. airstrikes had been paused, temporarily easing military risk and boosting appetite for precious metals. Silver has outpaced gold this year thanks to strong industrial demand from solar panel and electronics manufacturers. Analysts say continued geopolitical uncertainty and accommodative central bank policy could keep pushing prices higher in coming months. For retail investors, the move highlights precious metals as a portfolio diversification tool worth watching.