John Lee, CFA and CEO of Silver Elephant Mining, revisits his accurate silver price forecast from last year and discusses the current correction phase in silver and gold markets. He analyzes market manipulation, technical indicators, and the impact of rising interest rates and the US dollar. Lee also explores the oil market dynamics and highlights the emerging critical minerals sector tied to AI and robotics, emphasizing investment opportunities in silver, germanium, and clean tech.
John Lee, a Chartered Financial Analyst and CEO of Silver Elephant Mining Corp, recently shared his insights on the silver market, reflecting on his accurate forecast from last year and providing an update on the current state and future prospects of silver, gold, and related markets.
In July 2025, John Lee predicted that silver, then trading around $36, would reach $70 by the end of the year. This forecast proved prescient as silver rallied to a high of $83 and closed the year at $71.60. The rally even peaked above $120 in January 2026 before entering a corrective phase.
Silver and gold have both entered a corrective phase, with silver trading around $62 and gold near $4,137 at the time of recording. Both metals are trading below their 50-day and 200-day moving averages, with a potential "death cross" (50-day moving average crossing below the 200-day) expected within two weeks. This technical setup often signals further downside risk.
John Lee anticipates silver consolidating between $50 and $85, with a likely range of $58 to $75 through September 2026. He notes that the market may experience a washout or panic selling around the July contract rollover and holiday period.
Lee highlights unusual market activity, including a massive one-day silver price drop of about $30 on January 30th, accompanied by unprecedented trading volume equivalent to 1.5 times the annual silver supply. He attributes such volatility to coordinated actions by market cartels manipulating prices through futures and ETFs.
The recent rally in the US dollar and the prospect of higher interest rates pose challenges for precious metals. Lee explains that the Federal Reserve's hawkish stance and potential rate hikes, possibly as early as September, strengthen the dollar and pressure gold and silver prices.
Despite this, Lee argues that the current economic environment is heavily influenced by the "2030 agenda," involving central bank digital currencies and synthetic financial instruments, which distort traditional price discovery mechanisms.
Lee discusses the paradox of rising interest rates alongside record-high equity markets, suggesting that entities with unlimited credit access ("the power that be") support market prices through various means, including the so-called "plunge protection team."
He foresees continued volatility in gold and silver, with initial price declines during interest rate hikes followed by a steady resumption of rallies, drawing parallels to the 1970s.
Turning to oil, Lee shares his personal experience of losses despite fundamental bullishness due to supply constraints and geopolitical tensions, particularly around the Strait of Hormuz.
He notes that strategic petroleum reserves are being drawn down rapidly, and global commercial reserves are low, creating a supply deficit of 5 to 10 million barrels per day. This situation could lead to a significant price spike once reserves are depleted.
Lee also points out that the US Treasury and Japanese authorities are releasing over 100 million barrels from strategic reserves to suppress prices, mirroring tactics used in the silver market.
John Lee highlights the growing importance of critical minerals like germanium, essential for AI and robotics technologies. Germanium prices have surged tenfold over six years, and Silver Elephant Mining is actively developing germanium projects.
He explains the synergy between energy production, storage, and AI-driven robotics, emphasizing the need for investments in clean tech companies like Clean Techch, which focus on energy solutions for powering AI data centers and robotics.
Lee elaborates on the transformative impact of AI and robotics on the workforce and economy. Robots are increasingly performing tasks such as cooking, cleaning, and running errands, with projections of over a billion robots operating within the next few years.
This revolution drives demand for energy, batteries, and critical minerals, creating new investment themes beyond traditional tech stocks.
John Lee's comprehensive analysis underscores the complexity of the silver market and its interplay with global economic forces, market manipulation, and emerging technological trends. While silver and gold face near-term headwinds, the broader energy and critical minerals sectors present compelling long-term opportunities tied to the AI and robotics revolution.
Investors interested in precious metals and clean tech should monitor technical indicators, geopolitical developments, and the evolving landscape of critical minerals to navigate this dynamic market environment.
For more insights and updates, John Lee can be followed on Twitter under the handle "John Lee Clean Techch Manadium."
This article provides a detailed overview of John Lee's market commentary, offering valuable perspectives for investors and enthusiasts in precious metals, energy, and emerging technologies.
