Silver hits new highs, pierces $18 an ounce

Silver prices rose on Thursday to a 3-1/2 month high, hovering above $18 an ounce as the dollar falls against a basket of currencies, underpinning commodities.
 
Silver last traded at $18.08 an ounce, up from the opening price of $17.96, with a session-high at $18.11, and a low at $17.91.
 
Silver's surge today comes as the dollar tumbles on profit-taking after hitting a five-week high against a basket of currencies yesterday following upbeat inflation and retail sales data from America.
 
Dollar's decline buoyed the greenback-denominated silver futures, while stocks stopped rising after hitting record highs recently, buoying demand on the white metal as an alternative investment.
 
The dollar index, measuring the greenback versus a basket of peers, fell to 100.54 from the opening of 101.05, with a session-high at 101.06, and a low at 100.41, after hitting a five-week high yesterday at 101.76.