Silver traded at $70.62 per ounce at 6:30 a.m. Eastern Time today, up $2.28, or 3.33%, from 24 hours earlier. It stood at $58.39 a month ago, representing a 20.94% increase, and at $39.04 a year ago, an 80.89% gain of more than $31. Silver has rallied nearly 25% over the past year and reached decade-high territory. Its industrial uses, including electronics and medical equipment, make it more price-sensitive than gold, while gold is primarily viewed as a safe-haven asset. Silver is often considered a store of value and an inflation hedge, although its long-term returns have lagged stocks: since 1921, it has underperformed the S&P 500 by roughly 96%. Investors can gain exposure through physical bullion, coins, jewelry, mining stocks, or ETFs (exchange-traded funds), which can be backed by physical silver and avoid direct storage and insurance responsibilities. Analysts anticipate possible further strength, including new highs, but advisors typically recommend limiting silver to 10% to 15% of a portfolio and total precious-metals exposure to about 20%.