The Five Minute Guide to Silver ETFs
Silver mining began about 5,000 years ago in Anatolia (modern day Turkey). The metal quickly became the impetus for exploration and the discovery of new worlds as it was a sought-after measurement of wealth, and valued as money, jewelry and for decorative objects. Eventually, the industrial age began to put silver to new uses due to its two important characteristics: of all the known elements – from hydrogen (H; atomic number 1) to Ununoctium (Uuo; atomic number 118), silver is the best electrical conductor and the most reflective. Because of its unique characteristics, silver now has numerous applications in art, industry, science, technology and investments [for more silver news and analysis subscribe to our free newsletter].
A Deeper Look At America’s Commodity Industry
According to the CIA World Fact Book, the United States operates the largest single-country economy in the world. Its gross domestic product for 2011 was estimated at $15.3 trillion, trailing the European Union, which is comprised of 27 different countries, by only $360 billion. China remains in third place, as the developing economy continues to see rapid growth in recent years due to its build out of industrial capacity and its growing class of individual consumers. Growth in the U.S., however, remains subdued below 2%. The global economic slowdown has certainly hampered the nation’s growth, but there still remains a few economic bright spots, namely the advancement of domestic energy production [for more commodity news and analysis subscribe to our free newsletter].
