Silver settles higher past $17 as dollar retreats

Silver futures tilted higher in American trade away from December 29 lows as the dollar index lost ground, following earlier data from China, the world's largest metals consumer, and the US, the world's largest economy. 

As of 06:14 GMT, silver futures due on March 15 rose 0.09% to $17.025 an ounce from the opening of $17.010, while the dollar index fell 0.30% to 92.25 from the opening of 92.53. 

Earlier data from China, which accounts for 40% of global copper demand, showed consumer prices accelerated to 1.8% y/y from 1.8% in November, missing expectations of 1.9%. 

Chinese producer prices slowed down to 4.9% y/y from 5.8% in November, beating forecasts of 4.8%.

Otherwise, China's central bank governor said yesterday that he expects the GDP to slow down to 6.4% from 6.5% in 2018, in turn hurting prospects for minerals demand. 

Otherwise, earlier US data showed import prices slowed down to 0.1% from 0.8% in November, missing expectations of 0.4%, while wholesale inventories rose 0.8% in November, compared to a 0.5% dip in October. 

The World Bank released its global forecasts earlier today, expecting the strongest growth rate since the financial crisis, with global GDP expected to grow 3.1% in 2018, up from 3% in 2017. 

Emerging economies will lead global growth, especially those relying on commodity exports, with the bank expecting a 4.5% growth rate for them in 2018 before settling at 4.7% in 2019 and 2020, while developed economies are projected to grow 2.2% in 2018, down from 2.3% in 2017. 

The reason behind the growth slowdown in developed economies is the ending of stimulus policies followed recently, according to the World Bank, which weighs on investment. 

The bank put a positive outlook for major economies such as the US, Japan, China, and the euro zone, while pointing to potential risks there. 

Recent reports indicated that China is considering a cut in purchases of US treasury bonds, weighing on the dollar and boosting long-term treasury yields to 10-month highs. 

Experts estimate the bond market is in bear mood, as the European Central Bank extended its program to purchase asserts until next September while trimming it to down from 60 to 30 billion euros.