Circumstances Add Shine to Silver By Holmes Osborne About this article: In 1998, the world produced 824 million ounces of silver; in 2007, production only grew to 894 million ounces, which is not much of a jump considering that silver has reached $20.69 an ounce this year, up from its nadir of $4.20 in 2001. Silver has several short- and long-term aspects that make it an attractive investment. Emerging markets, central banks printing money, an overheated U.S. dollar and higher production costs all make this metal a good place to make a buck in a down market. The iShares Silver Trust is an exchange-traded fund that holds silver in a vault and makes it easy for investors to trade the commodity. Silver has many uses beyond jewelry and hedging -- it is also an excellent conductor of electricity. In 2007, industrial demand accounted for 54% of global silver fabrication, according to the Silver Institute. Jewelry, silverware... Or, call us at 1-866-321-TSCM (8726) Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-6 p.m. ET. Outside the U.S. and in Canada, call 1-212-321-5200. More Stories From RealMoney Durable Goods Up Move Down the Tech Food Chain Jobless Claims Still High Bulls' Tenacity Is the Big Question Mark Should You Buy It? Pharmaceutical Product Development Bad News Trumps All Support for Banks Holds, For Now Bummer, Yields Are on the Rise Money on the Line Makes a Big Difference Structured Products: Unsafe at Any Price MORE STORIES FROM REALMONEY

If you choose a 14-day free trial of RealMoney and you do NOT call to cancel within those 14 days, you will pay $129.95 — a $100 savings off the regular annual subscription price of $229.95. Unless you cancel before the end of that year, your subscription will automatically renew for another year at the then-current subscription price.

Offer applies only to new annual subscriptions, and is subject to change at any time. Void where prohibited.

If you choose a monthly subscription, you pay $34.95 per month. You will be notified if the current monthly rate of $34.95 changes at any time in the future.

TheStreet.com is a publisher. None of the contributors or their affiliates will provide you with personally tailored advice concerning the nature, potential, value or suitability of any particular security, portfolio of securities, transaction, investment strategy or other matter. From time to time, any or all of the contributors or their affiliates may hold positions in securities mentioned and they may trade for their own accounts. In cases where the position is held at the time of publication, appropriate disclosure is made.

© TheStreet.com, Inc., 14 Wall Street, 15th Floor, New York, NY 10005.