Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Interesting for those of us who follow metals. Platinum (Pt) has VERY uncharacteristically been $300-$350 cheaper than gold, which has been completely the opposite of my recollection for most of my trading career. Pt is about ten times as rare as gold but the shift away from Pt catalysts (mfrs have learned how to use cheaper Palladium Pd)

Anyway, this is kind of interesting because the price relationships between & among these metals go back many decades, but the shift in vehicle use is warping the supply/demand picture.

1 posted on 10/23/2017 9:29:25 AM PDT by Attention Surplus Disorder
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies ]


To: Attention Surplus Disorder

Interesting information. Thanks.

I would like to see a drop in Pd prices, but... maybe not. Not if this change really is the result of changes in automotive catalyst usage. The Auto market dominates all other uses for such noble metals.


2 posted on 10/23/2017 9:43:07 AM PDT by SomeCallMeTim ( The best minds are not in government. If any were, business would hire them!it)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies ]

To: Attention Surplus Disorder

So, I learned something I did not know. I knew platinum was used in catalytic convertors but did not know palladium was an alternative. I look it up and discover that Rhodium, another noble metal, is also used in convertors. I was curious and looked up the prices and found this link. http://www.infomine.com/investment/metal-prices/rhodium/
Interesting that there was a collapse in the price of Rhodium in’08. Now I have to go read about Ruthenium.


4 posted on 10/23/2017 10:01:10 AM PDT by outofsalt ( If history teaches us anything it's that history rarely teaches us anything)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies ]

To: Attention Surplus Disorder

I would think that Pt and Pd have additional value because they can more easily escape detection than gold when moved across borders.

Just melt into a car bumper or maybe some “silver” plates and I’m sure you can get through. As long as you have a device to determine the atomic weight it’s fine. There are such devices that aren’t too much money that measure resistance of a metal to current which directly correlates with the atomic weight.


5 posted on 10/23/2017 10:26:50 AM PDT by grumpygresh (When will Soros be brought to justice? Crush the vermin, crush the Left.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson