Silver tumbles, oil drops in commodity sell-off

Commodities prices slid on Thursday, led by silver, part of a broad market sell-off as investors reversed an earlier rush for hard assets after global geopolitical tensions eased.

Silver tumbled as much as 15 per cent and oil prices fell more than $1 a barrel after the U.S. and Iran agreed to hold talks, and after a positive telephone call between the leaders of the U.S. and China.

Commodities joined other financial markets such as shares in lurching lower as some of the speculative...