Barrick Gold has confirmed that it has dropped plans to develop the Sedibelo platinum project in South Africa. Not to worry. The story for the metal has only just begun.
Though platinum prices have near doubled to 1350/oz this week from a low of 732/oz last October, for the miners in South Africa, it is still an uphill task. The SA government’s talks to takeover ownership of mines could potentially scare off investors. How will the platinum producers operate in a constrained environment?
As platinum just start down the road to recovery, analysts are already warning that supply threats are likely to boost the metals price to new highs. Platinum prices may climb above $1,500 an ounce “in the next couple of years” as demand recovers amid supply constraints in South Africa, the world’s biggest producer, according to Banc of America Securities- Merrill Lynch.
Platinum was mixed on Thursday, July platinum rose $2.40 to $1,207.60 an ounce, while September palladium declined $3.35 to $239.70. The drop in the three month contract price was related to declining crude oil. Last week, prices of both platinum and palladium climbed to their highest levels since November 2008-
Platinum prices, already on the positive track, got a boost this week from declining greenback and the announcement of GM’s Bankruptcy. GM’s bankruptcy is by no means a positive for platinum, as the auto industry accounts for approximately half of global platinum demand; however, platinum’s price has been reflecting the impending bankruptcy for many weeks.
Platinum declined last week; and continued the trend this Monday as uncertainty over the future of US automaker GM put the metal’s near future demand outlook into question. In the current state of the economy, the auto industry is unable to lend support to platinum; but the metal may get some relief from rising safe haven appeal.
Platinum is on track for the best quarter in over a year, as demand for the metal as an alternative to gold has nudged prices up 23 per cent. Platinum’s premium to gold stood at $213.15 an ounce yesterday, compared with $1,041.83 a year ago.
Monday’s equity market rally switched precious metals to a negative track. As equities rose, the precious metals were less enticing to investors, and this was reflected in their value. Platinum for April delivery ended the session in New York down $14.20 to $1,049.40 per troy ounce.
Platinum is known as “high-octane gold”, for its stronger price moves and prospects for a higher upside. Platinum is essential to the economies of many industrialized nations, globally, demand for platinum is the sum of; investment demand, industrial demand, and jewellery demand.
Platinum has bounced more than 30 percent since plunging to a five-year low of approximately $732 an ounce in October. This ascent is occurring despite the absence of physical buying from the industrial sector. This rebound, without appropriate technical recovery is puzzling analysts.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
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