Silver prices continue soaring as debt fears and geopolitical tensions send precious metals to fresh record highs

As markets reopened Friday after the Christmas holiday, U.S. stocks were little changed, but precious metals saw plenty of action.

Silver prices jumped 9.6% to top $78 per ounce for the first time ever. Gold rose 1.3% to a fresh record of $4,561 per ounce, and platinum surged 10.5% to its own high, while palladium leapt 13%.

So far this year, silver has spiked 169%, platinum has shot up 172%, and palladium has soared 124%—all easily beating gold’s year-to-date gain of 73%...