Gold and silver continue to retain their long-term appeal despite recent profit booking and short-term volatility, supported by strong fundamentals, central bank demand and expectations around global interest rates. However, investors should remain mindful of silver’s higher volatility and the possibility of periodic corrections across precious metals, according to Emkay Wealth Management.Emkay noted that gold has found strong support around the US$4,060 level, while silver has held the US$58 level over the past four to six weeks. Despite the recent correction, the resilience of precious metals suggests that the broader uptrend remains intact, with the current consolidation potentially providing a stronger base for the next leg of the cycle.Also Read | Best large cap mutual funds to invest in September 2026Gold's recent movement has been supported by multiple structural factors, and the rally in the metal has been driven not merely by momentum but by underlying fundamentals, including continued central bank buying and demand for diversification of reserves.The current rally has also completed only a portion of its average historical cyclical period, suggesting that the longer-term cycle may still have room to play out. While profit booking may continue to create intermittent volatility, the broader support structure remains healthy.Silver has also witnessed significant long-term appreciation, although its higher sensitivity to industrial demand and market sentiment has resulted in greater short-term volatility.How gold and silver investment products fared Gold ETFs have also delivered strong returns over the longer term. As of July 31, 2026, the one-year returns of leading Gold ETFs stood above 43%, with HDFC Gold ETF delivering 43.47%, Kotak Gold ETF 43.53% and Nippon India ETF Gold BeES 43.24%. Over a three-year period, the respective schemes delivered 32.37%, 32.49% and 32.27%.Gold Funds have similarly generated robust long-term returns, with leading schemes delivering around 42% over one year and more than 31% over three years.As of July 31, 2026, ICICI Pru Silver ETF delivered a one-year return of 95.24%, while Nippon India Silver ETF delivered 94.55%. Over three years, the schemes generated returns of 42.09% and 41.71%, respectively.Silver Funds have also maintained strong long-term performance, with one-year returns of over 90% for the schemes tracked. What is the outlook for gold and silver? Looking ahead, the outlook for gold remains particularly favourable if global monetary policy shifts towards a softer interest-rate regime for an extended period. Such a scenario could reduce the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding assets and further strengthen the investment case for gold. Also Read | HUDCO shares jump 4% after signing Rs 25,000 crore MoU with Bihar government for infrastructure developmentGold is estimated to have another 12% upside potential, while silver could encounter resistance around US$68 and US$74 per ounce, respectively. Investors, however, should remain mindful of the higher volatility associated with silver and the possibility of intermittent corrections across the precious-metals complex. For investors, the recent correction may therefore be viewed less as a change in the long-term narrative and more as part of the normal cyclical movement of precious metals. A measured allocation to gold and silver can continue to play a role in portfolio diversification, subject to individual risk appetite, investment horizon and asset-allocation strategy.(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times)If you have any mutual fund queries, message on ET Mutual Funds on Facebook/Twitter. We will get it answered by our panel of experts. Do share your questions on ETMFqueries@timesinternet.in alongwith your age, risk profile, and Twitter handle.