Silver prices fall to eight‑month low amid escalating Iran‑U.S. tensions

Silver July futures opened at $55.83 per ounce on Friday, July 17, 2026, slipping 0.6% from the previous close. By 8:13 a.m. ET, the price had fallen to $55.58.

Silver opened at an eight‑month low as escalating U.S.–Iran hostilities continued. The price is more than 20% lower than it was a month ago.

For a sixth consecutive day, the United States struck Iranian targets in retaliation for attacks on oil tankers navigating the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has maintained control of the waterway and responded with its own strikes across the Middle East.

Oil prices have risen nearly 13% over the past five days, reviving inflation concerns and leading many analysts to expect higher interest rates later this year. Even the prospect of tighter monetary policy is likely to suppress silver prices in the near term.

Current price of silver

The Friday opening price of silver futures was 0.6% below Thursday’s close. Below is a summary of the change versus the previous week, month, and year:

• One week ago: -6.9%

• One month ago: -20.6%

• One year ago: +47.5%

For context, silver’s year‑over‑year growth reached 173.3% on May 14.

Investing in silver? Here’s how to avoid taxes

Physical silver — including bars, rounds, and coins — is classified by the IRS as a collectible. Gains from its sale are therefore taxed differently than typical capital gains.

If you hold silver for one year or less, any profit is taxed as ordinary income, with rates that can reach up to 37% depending on your tax bracket.

If you hold silver for more than one year, the gain is still taxed at your ordinary income rate, but the maximum rate is capped at 28%.

For investors in lower brackets (10%, 12%, 22%, 24%), the tax on silver gains matches that bracket. For those in higher brackets (32%, 35%, 37%), the maximum tax is 28%.

Consequently, a middle‑income investor who typically pays 15% on stock gains might face a 22% or 24% tax on silver gains, depending on adjusted gross income.

For high‑income earners, the 28% cap is lower than 35% or 37% but still exceeds the 20% long‑term capital gains rate applicable to stocks. This difference can add up quickly on large gains.

Learn more: How to avoid taxes when investing in silver

Price of silver chart

Whether you are tracking silver’s price over the past month or year, the chart below illustrates the metal’s performance so far this year.

Additional silver coverage from the Yahoo Finance team:

Source link