Silver traded near $52.50 per troy ounce Thursday as markets assessed the Federal Reserve’s rate decision and Alphabet’s reaffirmed plan for significantly higher capital expenditures in 2027, without a new dollar estimate.
Prices varied across feeds and timestamps. FXStreet cited silver near $52.60 at 5:40 a.m. ET (09:40 GMT). Alex Lexington later recorded a session low of $52.50 and a quote of $52.88 at 6:57 a.m. ET; Twelve Data listed a low of $52.4588 and a quote of $52.6109 at 7:45 a.m. ET (11:45 UTC).
On Oct. 28, Alphabet Chief Financial Officer Anat Ashkenazi said the company expected capital expenditures to rise significantly in 2027. She gave no estimate for that year and said Alphabet would provide more detail on its fourth-quarter call. The company kept its 2026 capex range at $195 billion to $205 billion. On its first-quarter call, it had forecast a significant increase in 2027 capex.
Alphabet said its AI infrastructure investments were responding to demand for AI infrastructure and solutions. Ashkenazi said the investment would put pressure on free cash flow.
Meta said its AI investments were contributing to advertising revenue. The company set its 2026 capital-expenditure range at $135 billion to $145 billion, including principal payments on finance leases. For the quarter ended Sept. 30, Meta reported $34.91 billion in capex and negative free cash flow of $2.12 billion.
The two dissenters in the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) vote were Fed Gov. Lisa D. Cook and Cleveland Fed President Beth M. Hammack, who favored a quarter-point increase. The other 10 members held the federal funds target range at 3.75%-4.00%. The Fed’s statement said inflation remained elevated.
FXStreet’s market analysis argued that larger AI investments could push up government bond yields, making non-interest-paying silver less attractive. The analysis did not establish that Alphabet’s outlook caused Thursday’s price move.
Separately, The Associated Press, citing two diplomats, reported that U.S. officials urged regional allies to prepare for potential renewed military action against Iran after the Nov. 3 midterm elections. AP said President Donald Trump had not decided whether to proceed, and the White House gave no comment.
The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) is scheduled to release September personal income and outlays, including the personal consumption expenditures price index, at 8:30 a.m. ET Thursday. The Fed’s next policy meeting is scheduled for Dec. 8-9.
