Platinum Price Reservations

Our reservations concerning the Platinum price became firmer as last week progressed. Given that US investors in general have had the opportunity to play the platinum market in earnest for the first time, it is not surprising that since the launch of the platinum ETF (PPLT-NYSE) the week before last met with such enthusiastic buying. Read more

Platinum Investors Beware!

Since the launch the week before last, of the new Platinum ETF (PHPT) trading on the NY exchange, the precious metal has seen some very large gains.

This ETF operates along similar lines to the gold (GLD) & silver (SLV) ETFs traded in the US where they hold physical metal in vaults to the approx value of the money invested in each fund. Read more

Platinum Prospects For 2010

The first year of the new decade is likely to set the scene that could last until 2013 maybe longer.

Investors may face either the prospect of a period of deflation, possibly setting in by the end of the first quarter of the new year, followed eventually by considerable inflation. The alternative is steadily increasing inflation for as long as the US, Europe and others can keep their new money printing presses churning out new banknotes while using every trick they can think of to delay the inevitable blow up.

The BRIC nations particularly China, and other developing countries, have clearly signalled their loss of faith in the US dollar and its status as the world’s reserve currency, and their reluctance to take on any further US debt. If we believe the latter, that western politicians will continue with the economic policies they have so enthusiastically embraced in the past twelve months then Platinum’s prospects for 2010 can be considered rosy. Read more

What Are The Uses Of Rhodium?

Did You Know?

that Rhodium is historically circa six times more expensive than Gold

Rhodium is one of a group of metals known as Noble Metals. Most are Precious Metals and all are resistant to corrosion and oxidation. Other examples are Gold Platinum and Silver.

Rhodium has a very high melting point, is corrosion resistant and is a good electrical conductor.

These properties allow it to be used in the following Read more

How To Invest In Ruthenium, Vanadium And Titanium

Start by going  to www.kitco.com, www.minormetals.com, and www.thebulliondesk.com to check out the latest prices and news on these metals .

The first point you should notice is that all the quotes, with the exception of titanium, have significantly high spreads.

In some cases you will be looking at having to see a rise of over 10% before you move into profit, and we have seen spreads at 20% or more in the past when there has been particularly high volatility in these markets. This is the danger of trading in such a limited environment. Read more

How To Invest In Rhodium

At the end of last week Rhodium for 30 day delivery was trading around $1500 an ounce, more expensive than platinum and palladium with which it shares its primary use in auto catalyst applications to control exhaust emissions.

We assume that our readers are conversant  with its properties and range of uses. Now lets see how to invest in Rhodium and if it is worthwhile.

As it is such a rare metal there is no primary miner, that is, it is a by- product of other mining activities. Read more

Will Shorting Platinum Be Profitable?

Strikes continue to hit Impala Holdings for the third day running at their Rustenberg mine, the worlds largest Platinum mine as the company announces an annual net income drop of 65% for the year ending in June. Impala Holdings is the second largest platinum producer in the world. Read more

Gold And Silver Soar Leaving Platinum Dropping

Platinum languishes as gold and silver reach new multi month highs. Investors keen to participate in the commodity markets as prices rise in the face of the declining dollar look to gain from silver and gold.

Platinum prices have dropped by around forty percent from their peak as the metal’s major industrial users, auto manufacturers, show no signs of recovering from their current slump in sales. Read more

Platinum Backed ETF Planned For U.S. Launch

There are plans to launch a platinum ETF in the U.S. backed by the physical metal.

It is expected that the ETF will be run on similar lines to the SPDR Gold Trust and IShares Silver Trust, both highly successful ETFs.

A palladium ETF is also reported as being under consideration.

Both ETFs will give more trading freedom to the average retail investor looking to enter the Platinum Group Metals (PGMs) sector of the precious metals market. Read more

Uses of Iridium

Iridium is a stable metal that rarely reacts chemically and it is the most corrosive resistance of all the metals.

• It is mainly used is as a hardening agent in Platinum alloys.

• Used in treating prostate and other cancers by high dose radiation therapy.

• Used in the manufacture of crucibles, special containers and other apparatus resistant to intense heat.

• Alloyed with Platinum to make heavy duty electrical contacts such as high performance technically advanced spark plugs for use in the automotive and aviation industries.

• Very brittle and extremely difficult to machine but is available as sheet, wire, powder and sponge.

• As a catalyst to produce acetic acid.

• Iridium alloyed with Osmium is used to tip fountain pen nibs and in pivot bearings such as those found in compasses, surgical tools and other special equipment.

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