The tight supply of palladium in 2011 will encourage higher prices for the metal over the course of the year. Russian state stockpiles are rumored to be dwindling and may run out because of the increased industrial demand for the metal. In South Africa the ability to increase production is hampered by a lack of reliable electricity. These factors play into the rising expectations for palladium prices in 2011.
Weak auto sales numbers and the fears of a double-dip recession hindered the price of palladium in early July. However the metal has been rebounding due to better than expected earnings in the US, as well as on the promising news of European bank stress tests.
Fears of a slowing recovery and a luke warm auto sales market have hurt the price of palladium over the past month. While sales in the largest markets mainly China and the US have improved year over year, data suggests a weaker outlook than predicted.
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.
Even with the current price drops and uncertainty surrounding when they will make a turn around, some are still bullish about precious metals in the long-term. Given the recently doom and gloom headlines regarding the American economy, an end to the downward slide could be in sight.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011