Investors in gold and silver might be in for a rocky ride ahead. Experts caution that the meteoric rise seen last year is unlikely to repeat itself, with potential declines on the horizon. Escalating oil prices coupled with inflation worries make the prospect of interest rate cuts from the US Federal Reserve seem distant.

Precious metals were firmly in negative territory, as fears about inflation and the Federal Reserve's interest rate path weighed on investor sentiment.

Gold and silver ETFs tumbled on Thursday as precious metal prices fell sharply amid heightened geopolitical tensions, rising crude oil prices and inflation concerns. SBI Gold ETF…