Watching the live silver price swing like a caffeinated kangaroo, you wonder—what is really driving it right now? Is the dollar the currency used? Industrial demand: Breakfast gone wrong for several hedge fund managers? Let us dissect it free from the jargon overdose.

More wild than gold is silver. This is an industrial workhorse, not only a precious metal. Half its demand comes from manufacturers, electronic devices, solar panels, you know what I mean? Silver hence usually rides the wave as economies start to pick up steam. As they sputter? Let us say, then, that it does not always finish beautifully.

Right this second, the live price is dancing as usual. Perhaps it’s because some factories only bought 10 tons of solar cells. Perhaps it’s related to traders’ spooking over interest rate rumors. Silver responds to everything—fed talks, manufacturing figures, even the quantity of recently released iPhones. It is the metal overachiever.

Shadow of the dollar looms big. Since silver is valued in greenbacks worldwide, it often flinches when the dollar moves. A high currency kills demand by making silver more expensive elsewhere. A feeble dollar? All of suddenly, everyone is purchasing. It’s a tug-of- war; the rope is silver.

Then there is the peculiar influence of gold. Though not twin, they are cousins. Sometimes silver pursues gold rallies, but with far more drama. For a reason, traders refer to it as “poor man’s gold”. It’s less expensive, hence little actions seem more significant. Five percent change in gold? Silver might only show off with 10%.

Another important factor is supply shocks. Most silver results from the mining of other metals, such as copper, lead, zinc. Should those mines slow down, silver tightens quickly. And you cannot simply drill more than with oil. Once it disappears, it does so.

Viewing real prices? The worst of it is that you won’t pay the “spot price”. Dealers credit premiums, particularly for coins and bars. Ten to twenty percent over spot, that beautiful ounce may cost. Why? Not free are melting, minting, and shipping.

Should you fix yourself on every flicker? Only if you engage in daily trading. Zoom out for everyone else as well. Although Silver’s a rollercoaster, the track has been rising for ages. It is money, technology, jewelry—the Swiss Army knife of metals.

Pro tip: Save a live chart as bookmark. See how silver moves with news arrival. You will begin to notice trends—like how it loves solar booms but hates rate increases. Every time, knowledge surpasses conjecture.

In final view Silver never seems to be dull. It seems slow one day then it’s sprinting. Remember; it’s been useful since the Romans; stay sharp, don’t panic. A few negative hours do not change history.