Invest in Platinum: 2009?

At face value, it seems that now is the right time to invest in platinum when you consider the highs and lows of the past 52 weeks. Platinum reached an all-time high of just over $2,300 per ounce in March of 2008 and today tries to hold firm around $940 an ounce–a 60% drop from its primordial heights of 1st quarter 2008.

But a New Year is upon us and things are already beginning to change. With the news of the bloody conflict in the Gaza strip, precious metals prices got a jump-start during the last few days of 2008. Platinum was actually struggling in the mid-800s before the news of increased instability and the breach of the cease-fire in the Middle East.

Still, even in the mid $900s, platinum is at an all time low. It’s hard to imagine such a historically expensive metal going much lower. But is it a good time to buy?

That depends on your time horizon and a very unexpected twist in the precious metals sector: ties to the U.S. automaking industry. In years past, automakers consumed approx. 900,000 ounces of platinum in a single year–for use in their automobile’s catalytic converters. This accounted for about half of all platinum demand worldwide, according to London-based precious metals refiner, John Mattey, Plc.  With the spotlight heavily on the ailing “Big 3″ and the declining automobile industry, platinum took a serious hit in 2008.

Surprise, surprise–what to watch when considering an investment in platinum? Chevy, Ford, & Chrysler–”The Big 3″.

Our recommendation is to hold platinum for those few of you who actually own platinum coins or hold investments–now is certainly not the time to sell, with platinum prices at an all-time low.

Consider buying when you see the first signs of recovery in the auto-industry. The vast and great challenge of platinum investing: with platinum historically and unbearably volatile, timing the market in such a commodity can prove challenging–more so than gold and more familiar precious metals. By the time a recovery is underway, the rug may have already been pulled from under your feet, and platinum may have already shot up 20-30%. It is too late to invest.

Our recommendation: Hold or Buy for Long-term investment (but be prepared to wait!)

Related Posts:

Platinum Prices Related to Big 3 Automakers?

Gold Takes Lead over Platinum by Head

Platinum Wedding Band Prices

Platinum Rings: The King’s Heavy Metal

Platinum and Gold: When Metals Collide

Gold Takes Lead Over Platinum by Head

With a front-running style, favored Precious Gold takes the lead by a head December 15th, 2008, 5:30 Eastern, with Price of Platinum coming in second at a price of $835 per ounce–$2 below gold. The prelude to this historical event was Friday, December 12th, when platinum and gold collided within a $1 spread of each other. Platinum still managed to take the lead last Friday–but not so today.

It’s nothing short of an exhilarating horse race.

What finally put platinum trailing in the sand was unexpected: what else but the failing American auto-making industry. Platinum sank again with news of the U.S. senate’s rejection of the auto “bail out”. This made the difference since the auto-industry utilizes platinum in catalytic converters–and not just a tad. Approx. half of annual platinum demand comes from the auto-sector, which used 905,000 ounces of platinum in 2006!

Gold is clearly the winner over platinum in 2008, since the gold price performed at a 21% decrease vs. platinum’s 65% decline since March, 2008.

For those of you in search of your platinum diamond engagement ring this season, this does not mean that platinum rings will cost the same as gold rings, but now is the perfect time to buy that platinum ring, because platinum prices will be considerably lower in 2009 and possibly to the end of this decade unless the economy rebounds quicker than we anticipated, the auto industry does not substitute another metal for platinum (such as gold) in its catalytic converters, and platinum miners cut production in years to come, thereby reducing supply and effecting demand for the precious metal.

Platinum and Gold: When Metals Collide

Although platinum is 30 times rarer than gold, the two metals’ prices collided throughout the day and finally closed with gold at $822 per ounce and platinum at $823! Today’s $1 spread was nothing short of historical for precious metals; the last time platinum and gold met at such close quarters  was 1996!

Platinum has plummeted 65% for the year; gold has dropped 21%–making platinum next year’s bargain.

Metals had already seen a decline due to decreased consumer demand as a result of the economic downturn.  Adding to the ailment, platinum prices dropped further after the U.S. senate rejected a “bail out” for automakers today–deepening platinum’s fall from grace because of decreased demand for platinum in automobiles who use platinum for catalytic converters.

(Bloomberg) — According to London based metals refiner, John Matthey Plc, automakers make up about half of the world’s platinum and palladium demand. In 2006, North American automakers used 905,000 ounces of platinum.

According to Derek Engelbrecht of Impala Platinum Holdings, “the agony will continue in 2010″, if platinum miners in South Africa, who account for almost 80% of the world’s platinum supply, do not cut production. Without it platinum will, at best, stay at equilibrium or continue to decline.

2009-2010 will be the year of platinum jewelry as a direct result of decreased platinum jewelry prices. Perhaps now is the time to trade in your gold coins and buy that high-end platinum and 18k gold wedding band!

Platinum Prices Tied to the Big 3 Automakers?

Platinum fell below $800 an ounce on Thursday–a welcome sight for most in the fine jewelry industry, who consequently are able to lower platinum jewelry prices in hopes of motivating consumers to purchase such items as platinum wedding bands.

Platinum has exhibited nothing short of a bona fide crash in 2008, with platinum precious metal prices down 65% since its monumental peak of approx. $2,300 in March 2008. Platinum, today, hovers near $795 per ounce.

As a second generation jeweler and CEO of Apples of Gold Jewelry, I have been trying to fathom the mechanics of platinum’s elephantine decline. To the evident chagrin of precious metals investors, I have been outwardly gleeful to be able for the first time in six months to actually lower prices on jewelry, rather than raise them. Our goal, after all, at Apples of Gold, is to adhere to our value-based pricing philosophy which has helped boost jewelry sales in past years.

One recent timely factor of platinum’s fall from primordial heights: worries that trouble for American automakers will cut demand for platinum which is used in catalytic converters (motor vehicle pollution control devices). The economy, as we know, is intricately weaved in all of its multi-chromatic facets. Platinum prices fell, however, much earlier than the CEOs of the “Big 3″ flew their G4 private jets to Washington in the most surreal moment of 2008.

The biggest factor: Crude oil prices, a commodity that is economically and intricately tied to precious metals. Oil prices have declined 70% for the year since oil’s otherworldly 52 week high of $145 per barrel.  Oil hit a 5 year low today, closing at $43.67 per barrel, a low not seen since 2003. It’s noteworthy that gas prices have not yet fallen 70% since–but they have made large strides in the right direction.

A marginally rising U.S. dollar and falling oil prices are major contributors to falling precious metals, including gold, platinum, and palladium. The U.S. dollar is up approx. 18% vs. the Euro this year–all of which is contributing to precious metals’ decline (historically precious metals are inversely tied to the U.S. dollar as a hedge against inflation and instability in world markets).

Another major factor for platinum’s fall-out and perhaps the one that makes the most sense? Q1-Q2 platinum prices were simply too inflated at $2,300 per ounce and could not sustain long term jewelry demand. Platinum was far too expensive and out of the reach of most consumers. Although still a “metal for the masses”, platinum has become more attainable.

Personally, I feel much more comfortable with platinum prices in the $700 range. The lower the cost of raw materials, the lower jewelers are able to market their finished, designer jewelry pieces. With the economy in an untenable ball of fear, lower prices are a refreshing and welcome sight in the jewelry industry.

Apples of Gold has recently lowered prices on all of its platinum jewelry. And we hope this trend will continue.