Silver held steady around $54 an ounce on Wednesday after gaining some ground in the previous session, as investors awaited the US Federal Reserve’s upcoming policy decision and assessed Israeli election results for potential implications on the Middle East conflict. The Fed is widely expected to keep interest rates unchanged, although traders will look for clues regarding a possible rate hike in December. Meanwhile, the Reserve Bank of New Zealand kept its policy rate steady despite market expectations for another increase, signaling a cautious stance toward further monetary tightening. On the geopolitical front, oil prices remained volatile amid a closely contested Israeli election that could influence the course of the Middle East conflict. Silver has faced sustained pressure this year as regional tensions fueled inflation concerns and strengthened expectations for higher interest rates, reducing the appeal of the non-yielding precious metals.