Platinum is a precious metal, as is palladium, though to a lesser degree. However, like silver, both are also industrial metals. Unlike silver, it's their industrial use that is the primary price driver for both platinum and palladium - ...
Platinum is a precious metal, as is palladium, though to a lesser degree. However, like silver, both are also industrial metals. Unlike silver, it's their industrial use that is the primary price driver for both platinum and palladium - and that use is undergoing a fundamental shift.The largest source of demand for platinum and palladium is the automotive industry, for use in auto catalysts. In turn, the fortunes of the auto industry are sensitive to the health of the world's major economies. We've been bearish on platinum-group metals for years, primarily because we weren't convinced a healthy - much less roaring - world economy could be sustained when so many governments continue spending beyond their means.We reconsidered the market last year, when strikes in South Africa - home to 75% of global platinum production and 95% of known reserves - threatened supplies. But as we wrote last December
