by Dr. Jeffrey Lewis, Silver-coin-investor:
The bullish case for silver is easy enough to make. It also makes sense that if the price per ounce eventually takes off, then the miners would do well.
Nevertheless, the problems that silver miners face are multifaceted and will be discussed further in the following sections.
Inflation
The next trigger that catapults silver prices higher will likely be associated with a notable rise in inflation that may already be in process. The Producer Price Index (PPI) was up last month significantly for the first time in a while and crude oil is again testing the psychological $100 level.
Still, inflation is a double edged sword for the miners since rising energy costs will be a huge drag on net earnings for these companies. This is especially true for the penny stock miners who are still in the exploration stage and will require revisionary financing going forward.