Economy

Precious metals and mining stocks rebound while major jeweler slides on cost concerns

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Feb 3, 2026

THE BARE STORY

Gold and silver prices rallied on Tuesday, recovering from a historic sell-off that occurred late last week. Spot gold rose approximately 5.5% to trade above $4,913 per ounce, while spot silver climbed over 9% to settle near $86 per ounce. This recovery follows a dramatic decline on Friday, during which silver plummeted 30%—its worst single-day performance since 1980—and gold fell nearly 10%. Analysts attributed the initial volatility to a strengthening U.S. dollar and market reactions to President Donald Trump’s nomination of Kevin Warsh as the next Chair of the Federal Reserve.

The rebound in commodity prices lifted global mining stocks and related funds. In Europe, the basic resources sector index advanced over 2%, with major London-listed mining companies posting gains between 2.2% and 3.1%. In the United States, silver-focused exchange-traded funds rose between 8.3% and 15% in pre-market trading, while shares of several silver mining firms increased by approximately 7.5% to 8%. Strategists suggested the prior sell-off may have been an overcorrection, noting that industrial demand from sectors such as solar power and artificial intelligence infrastructure continues to support the investment case for silver.

Conversely, shares of Pandora, the world's largest jeweler, fell nearly 7% on Tuesday amid concerns over the impact of high metal costs on profitability. Analysts at Jefferies downgraded the stock, warning that the company faces a "pressured consumer" and volatile silver prices, which are nearly three times higher than they were a year ago. According to the firm’s model, current silver prices could imply significantly lower profits for the jeweler by 2027. The company previously raised prices by about 14% to offset input costs, a move analysts noted has damaged consumer engagement.

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• Pressure on corporate profitability While high metal prices benefit miners, they pose significant challenges for manufacturers and retailers who rely on these inputs. Shares of Pandora, the world's largest jeweler, fell nearly 7% amid warnings that the company faces a difficult environment due to volatile silver prices, which are nearly three times higher than they were a year ago. Analysts caution that these elevated costs could imply significantly lower profits for the jeweler by 2027.

• Strained consumer engagement Observers note that the rising cost of raw materials is negatively affecting the relationship between retailers and their customers. Pandora previously raised prices by approximately 14% to offset surging input costs, a strategy that analysts indicate has already damaged consumer engagement. There are concerns that a "pressured consumer" may not be able to absorb further price increases necessitated by expensive precious metals.

• Persistent market volatility Despite the Tuesday rebound, analysts highlight the extreme instability of the commodities market as a risk factor. The recovery follows a massive decline just days earlier, where silver experienced its worst single-day performance since 1980. This volatility, attributed to macroeconomic factors such as the strength of the U.S. dollar and political nominations regarding the Federal Reserve, creates an uncertain planning environment for businesses dependent on stable material costs.

How it may affect me

As a U.S. reader:

• Consumers shopping for jewelry may encounter higher retail prices, as major companies have already increased costs by about 14% to offset silver prices that are nearly three times higher than they were a year ago.

• Investors with portfolios including U.S. mining stocks or silver-focused exchange-traded funds may see short-term gains, with these assets recently rising between 7.5% and 15% during the market rebound.

• Individuals may experience continued financial market volatility in the near term, driven by reactions to the strength of the U.S. dollar and President Donald Trump’s nomination of Kevin Warsh as the next Federal Reserve Chair.

• Long-term industrial development in solar power and artificial intelligence infrastructure could sustain high prices for silver, as analysts cite these sectors as critical for maintaining demand.

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