South Africa

Platinum and Palladium: A Fundamental Shift By Jeff Clark, Senior Precious Metals Analyst Platinum is a precious metal, as is palladium, though to a lesser degree. However, like silver, both are also industrial metals. Unlike silver, ...
Platinum and Palladium: A Fundamental Shift By Jeff Clark, Senior Precious Metals Analyst 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 autocatalysts. 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, the strikes ended without great impact on long-term supply. Since then, however, the fundamentals of this market have changed. Others may disagree with our economic outlook, which is still bearish, but it's due to supply issues – not demand – that our interest is now drawn to these metals, and particularly to palladium. Here's a look at global supply against auto-industry demand for both metals. Approximately 55% of platinum and the bulk of palladium supply was used
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May 23 (Infostrada Sports) - Scores from the European Tour PGA Championship at the par-72 course on Thursday in Wentworth holesplayed rounds -6 James Kingston (South Africa) 18 66 -5 Mikko Ilonen (Finland) 18 67 -4 Scott Henry (Britain) ...
May 23 (Infostrada Sports) - Scores from the European Tour PGA Championship at the par-72 course on Thursday in Wentworth holesplayed rounds -6 James Kingston (South Africa) 18 66 -5 Mikko Ilonen (Finland) 18 67 -4 Scott Henry (Britain) 18 68 Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano (Spain) 18 68 Martin Wiegele (Austria) 13 -3 Matteo Manassero (Italy) 18 69 George Coetzee (South Africa) 18 69 Thomas Bjorn (Denmark) 18 69 Simon Khan (Britain) 18 69 Marc Warren (Britain) 18 69 Alejandro Canizares (Spain) 18 69 -2 Oliver Fisher (Britain) 18 70 Shane Lowry (Ireland) 18 70 Martin Kaymer (Germany) 18 70 Niclas ...
about 5 hours ago
British detectives are sifting through social media, security camera footage and witness statements, following the brutal murder of a serving soldier who survived a tour of duty in Afghanistan.
British detectives are sifting through social media, security camera footage and witness statements, following the brutal murder of a serving soldier who survived a tour of duty in Afghanistan.
about 6 hours ago
The Galapagos are now just a click away. Google has photographed the famous islands for Street View.
The Galapagos are now just a click away. Google has photographed the famous islands for Street View.
about 6 hours ago
Zimbabwean researcher Peter Morgan has been named the winner of the 2013 Stockholm Water Prize for developing low-cost toilets.
Zimbabwean researcher Peter Morgan has been named the winner of the 2013 Stockholm Water Prize for developing low-cost toilets.
about 6 hours ago
Troubled eastern DRC has the best chance in years to secure a lasting peace but the United Nations stands ready to pacify the region by force if need be, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon says.
Troubled eastern DRC has the best chance in years to secure a lasting peace but the United Nations stands ready to pacify the region by force if need be, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon says.
about 6 hours ago
Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula has accused men in opposition benches of being part of the apartheid-era army that maimed and killed people, as she faced heavy criticism in the National Assenmly.
Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula has accused men in opposition benches of being part of the apartheid-era army that maimed and killed people, as she faced heavy criticism in the National Assenmly.
about 6 hours ago
The Northern Cape has been ordered to compensate a teacher fired for refusing to alter a pupil's marks, the education department says.
The Northern Cape has been ordered to compensate a teacher fired for refusing to alter a pupil's marks, the education department says.
about 6 hours ago
The Afrikaners-only community Kleinfontein outside Rayton, east of Pretoria, has insisted in a debate with the DA that the criteria for its residents were not based on race.
The Afrikaners-only community Kleinfontein outside Rayton, east of Pretoria, has insisted in a debate with the DA that the criteria for its residents were not based on race.
about 6 hours ago
A man from rural France impersonated Gangnam Style star PSY at the Cannes Film Festival, eating, drinking and partying with the stars in Cannes for two days, reports say.
A man from rural France impersonated Gangnam Style star PSY at the Cannes Film Festival, eating, drinking and partying with the stars in Cannes for two days, reports say.
about 6 hours ago