Silver prices are outpacing gold this year, prompting cautious investors to wonder how to play the market while guarding against the white metal’s well-worn path of volatility. Silver futures are up 20% year to date, closing at $33.83 an ounce on Thursday at the New York Mercantile Exchange. By contrast, gold futures have risen 8.4% and are trading just below $1,700 an ounce. “After a period of doodling around the $30 mark after the April 2011 crash, silver has perked up and outrun gold, largely because of fear in the smaller-investor base that makes up the bulk of silver investing interest,” said Christopher ... (full story)