What is margin call selling and how did it hit metals?

When markets fall, brokers raise margin requirements. Traders must add cash or sell assets. They often sell liquid assets first, including gold and silver. That forced selling pressure can create a quick risk-off move across metals, even if fundamentals have not changed much in the short term.

Is the gold and silver plunge a buying opportunity?

It can be, but timing matters. Wait for stabilization signs like higher lows, narrower ETF discounts, and calmer volatility. Then scale in with small, pre-planned limit orders. Keep risk per trade steady and use stops where your thesis fails, not simply below the last swing.

How should German investors handle EUR versus USD exposure?

Decide if you want metal exposure with or without currency swings. EUR-hedged ETPs reduce currency impact but add costs. Unhedged products benefit if the euro weakens. Match the hedge choice to your time horizon, drawdown tolerance, and how metals fit with your other EUR and USD assets.

What signals show that funding stress is easing?

Look for tighter bid-ask spreads, deeper order books, and a return of market maker quotes. In ETFs, a shrinking discount to NAV is helpful. Falling realized volatility and lower margin requirement announcements also suggest pressure is fading and that price discovery is normalizing.

Global Market Insights

Gold, Silver Today February 13: Plunge as Margin Calls Fuel Risk-Off

ByHuzaifa Zahoor February 14, 2026

The gold and silver plunge on February 13 surprised many German investors. A wave of margin call selling in equities forced traders to raise cash quickly, and they sold liquid assets like precious metals. Silver briefly fell about 10%, while copper also weakened. The move looked momentum-driven rather than a USD story, pointing to funding stress across assets. We break down what triggered the risk-off move, how it touched European pricing, and how investors in Germany can respond with clear, rules-based plans for the next sessions.