KEY TAKEAWAYS Meanwhile, the U.S. government shutdown is about to enter its third week. Furloughs and layoffs of some government employees have begun, threatening overall consumer spending and economic growth. Tuesday's trading followed a Monday session in which nominal silver futures contracts eclipsed an all-time high established in 1980, when the Hunt brothers tried to corner the global silver market. Silver now has surged 78% year-to-date, while gold is up 58%. What This Means for Investors Investors of ...