Platinum has shed 45 per cent of its value in just nine months. Last Friday the spot price of platinum hit a low of $812.75 per oz. Now, for this first time in 12 years gold has surpassed platinum in value.
The sharp retreat of the stock market, combined with a higher US dollar has triggered a broad sell-off in the precious metals. Spot platinum slipped to a session low of $794.50 an ounce, down 8.8 per cent from $871.50 an ounce late on Friday.
Platinum prices advanced further Tuesday after surging oil prices boosted the precious metal’s appeal as a hedge against inflation. Overall weakness in the dollar, the recovery in equities and fresh optimism over the economic outlook sparked buying of commodities in earlier trade.
Platinum started the week off on a good note, prices rose more than 3 percent as the greenback weakened and a renewed optimism on platinum’s future market returned to analysts.
The continuing rise of the greenback coupled with auto industry woes has hit platinum where it hurts the most- market prices. These two factors are causing platinum to continue on a bearish trend.
Platinum prices slipped on Monday as the U.S. dollar resumed its rebound against the euro and the pound. Platinum is often used by investors as a hedge against a weakening dollar, so the dollar's recovery has made the metals less attractive.
Platinum prices declines on Monday as US dollar resumed its rebound against the euro and the pound.
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It was a tough day on the markets for the precious metals. Platinum plunged the furthest, at 6 percent, while gold dropped more than 2 percent and silver by 5 percent. The drop was instigated earlier in the session as economic worries prompted Asian traders to sell off metals.
Platinum fell to $1,475/1,490 an ounce from 1,517/1,537 an ounce, having hit an intraday low of $1,468.
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Tuesday, December 16, 2008
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