Political wrangling over the General Motor bailout could well be the silver lining for Stillwater Mining Co. Other automakers continue to use palladium, thereby ensuring higher prices.
With the Federal Reserve promising to keep US interest rates at a record low of near zero for the foreseeable future, analysts expect gold and other precious metals to fetch higher prices in the coming months. Palladium prices have been playing catch-up after plummeting in response to sluggish industrial demand and is expected to be a better show than gold in 2009.
Palladium prices climbed to an 11 month high of $274.50 an ounce on Tuesday, as dollar weakness and growing investor risk appetite boosted the precious metals complex.
Palladium’s gains were snapped last Friday as the greenback rallied. The precious metal came under pressure as a study from the University of Michigan showed an unexpected increase in consumer confidence. This reduced the metals “safe-haven” appeal.
Palladium was the only precious to be on the positive track on Monday, as the equity rally deteriorated the flight to safe haven investments. Palladium’s near term outlook remains bleak, as reports from Europe said that car registrations dropped 18 percent in February.
This week, palladium finally began to follow gold and lose some of its safe haven appeal. After holding steady and resisting gold’s sell-off, platinum and palladium have finally succumbed, dropping rapidly in this morning as poor auto industry numbers rolled in.
Exchange Traded Funds that deal in the precious metals have been seeing an increase in business, lately. ETF Securities said on Monday the amount of metal it holds to back its Physical Palladium exchange-traded commodity PHPD.L rose 12,628 ounces or 8 percent in the week to Feb. 6.
In the first six months of ’09, palladium’s value could range from $125 to $300 per ounce. The outlook for palladium is positive in some of its applications, however, a worsening economic climate and the possibility of a stronger US dollar could send palladium to as low as $125/oz during the next six months.
On January 5 palladium tumbled nearly 6 percent as the strong dollar knocked down all the precious metals. The metal hit a daily low of $178.50 an ounce, but was quoted at $180.00. On January 12 the metal picked up some steam, and rebounded to $191 per ounce.
Spot palladium rebounded on Monday, up more than 5 per cent from New York’s notional close of $168.00. Palladium hit $176.50 per ounce as technical buying emerged after demand worries stemming from an ambiguous auto industry vote hit platinum group metals on Friday.
Monday, November 2, 2009
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