Gold, Silver Plunge: Analysts Prefer Gold Over Silver for 2026 Amid Profit Booking

• Gold and silver prices sharply declined on December 29 after reaching fresh lifetime highs, driven by profit-taking.
• The fall was attributed to profit-taking, CME Group's margin hikes on silver futures, easing geopolitical tensions, and China's export restrictions.
• Analysts view the current correction as a short-term technical pullback, not a fundamental breakdown, with the underlying bull market intact.
• Gold is favored over silver for 2026 due to its stability, role as a monetary hedge, and continued central bank interest.
• Silver offers higher upside potential but comes with greater volatility due to its reliance on industrial demand and structural supply deficits.

Why It Matters: Precious metals saw profit booking; analysts favor gold for stability over volatile silver in 2026.