Platinum price hits record high amid S.Africa power crisis

AFP via Breitbart ^ | Feb 11, 2008 | AFP

[Jet Jaguar]

The price of platinum struck an historic high nearing 1,900 dollars here Monday on supply disruptions caused by power shortages in South Africa, the white metal's biggest producer, traders said.

On the London Platinum and Palladium Market, platinum struck a record peak of 1,899.25 dollars. It later stood at 1,895 dollars an ounce.

The price has been firm since November because of concern over deliveries from South Africa, where production has been affected by accidents, a miners' strike and now power shortages.

"With state energy provider Eskom forecasting the (power) problems to continue for several weeks, further gains seem inevitable with the metal potentially testing 2,000 dollars an ounce in the not too distant future," said James Moore, an analyst at thebulliondesk.com.

Platinum is used to make expensive jewellery and catalytic converters in vehicles.

[jsh3180]

I'm a shareholder in Stillwater Mining, The USA's only platinum and palladium miner. They mine in Montana. The stock has shot up like a rocket on the South African problems.