Platinum Futures Fall in Tokyo on Rising Yen, Concern That Demand May Slow

(Bloomberg) -- Platinum futures fell in Tokyo as a
rising Japanese currency reduced the appeal of buying yen-
denominated contracts for the dollar-priced metal, and as
a slump in world stocks raised concern that demand may drop.

The yen rose to 117.19 to the dollar, the highest since
March 29, on signs losses related to U.S. subprime mortgages are
starting to slow growth of the world's largest economy. Asian
stocks fell after the Standard & Poor's 500 Index had its biggest
three-week decline since 2003.


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Platinum Falls Most in Eight Months on Stronger Dollar; Palladium Declines

(Bloomberg) -- Platinum fell the most in eight
months in New York as the dollar strengthened, reducing the
metal's appeal as an alternative investment. Palladium also
dropped.

Platinum is traded mostly in dollars, which rose to a two-
week high against the euro, making the metal more expensive for
holders of the European currency. U.S. stocks extended
yesterday's drop, the biggest in five months, as investors
shunned riskier investments in favor of bonds.


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Platinum Futures Climb to Record in Tokyo as South Africa Mine Talks Stall

(Bloomberg) -- Platinum futures rose to a record in
Tokyo as deadlocked wage talks between unions and mines in South
Africa, the world's biggest producer of the metal, raised concern
that production may be crimped.

State officials in South Africa have been called in to
mediate negotiations at Anglo Platinum Ltd. and Impala Platinum
Holdings Ltd., the world's two biggest makers. Mediation is a
necessary step before unions can call a strike. Pay talks at
Northam Platinum Ltd., which reduced its raise demand, also ended
without an agreement yesterday.


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Platinum Futures Rise on Threats of South African Strikes; Palladium Gains

(Bloomberg) -- Platinum rose in New York on
speculation that strikes may disrupt supplies from South Africa,
a source of 78 percent of the metal. Palladium also gained.

State officials in South Africa are mediating in pay talks
between unions and management at Anglo Platinum Ltd. and Impala
Platinum Holdings Ltd., the world's two biggest producers of the
metal. Mediation is a necessary step before unions can call a
strike. Pay talks at Northam Platinum Holdings Ltd. ended without
an agreement yesterday.


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Platinum Falls in New York After Stillwater Strike Ends; Palladium Drops

(Bloomberg) -- Platinum fell for a third-straight
session in New York after a strike ended at Stillwater Mining
Co., the lone U.S. producer. Palladium also dropped.

Unionized workers at Stillwater's mine and smelter in
Montana accepted a four-year wage accord, ending a walkout that
began July 11. Workers are expected to be back on the job
tonight, Billings, Montana-based Stillwater said in a statement.


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Platinum Futures Gain in New York as Dollar Falls to Record Versus Euro

(Bloomberg) -- Platinum rose in New York after the
dollar fell to a record against the euro, boosting the precious
metal's appeal as an alternative investment. Palladium also
gained.

Gold, silver and platinum often move in the opposite
direction of the dollar. The euro climbed to $1.3784 today, the
highest since the currency's debut in 1999. Before today,
platinum had climbed 15 percent this year and reached a record
$1,353.80 on May 7.


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Platinum Rises on Strike Threat as Wage Talks in South Africa Unresolved

(Bloomberg) -- Platinum climbed to its highest in
more than a month in Asian trading on concern that output could
be disrupted by a possible strike at Impala Platinum Ltd., the
world's second-biggest producer.

The National Union of Mineworkers today said talks with
Impala failed and it will take a legal step toward striking.
Salary negotiations at South African miners, including Anglo
Platinum Holdings Ltd., the world's biggest producer, started in
May and have yet to conclude.


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Platinum Futures in Tokyo Little Changed Before U.S. Independence Holiday

(Bloomberg) -- Platinum futures were little changed
in Tokyo as some traders awaited the end of the Independence Day
holiday in the U.S. today to judge whether buying of precious
metals by index investors would resume.

Platinum earlier this week tracked gains in other precious
metals as some investors bought gold to reflect increases in its
weighting within indexes of commodities for the third quarter,
which started Monday, said Kazuhiko Saito, a commodity strategist
at Interes Capital Management.


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Platinum Is Little Changed on South Africa Labor Talks; Palladium Falls

(Bloomberg) -- Platinum was little changed in New
York, heading for a weekly decline, after Anglo Platinum Ltd.,
the world's largest producer of the metal, raised a wage offer
in an attempt to avert a strike in South Africa.

Anglo Platinum is offering pay raises of 8 percent to
10 percent, after a 7 percent increase was rejected, Solidarity
labor union said. At Impala Platinum Holdings Ltd., the world's
second-largest producer, workers in South Africa turned down an
increased pay offer this week. The country produces about
80 percent of the world's platinum.


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CPM forecasts platinum to average $1,235/oz in '07

(Reuters) - Platinum should average $1,235 an ounce in 2007 with a range of $1,175 to $1,425 an ounce, commodities research and consulting firm CPM Group said on Tuesday.

Jeffrey Christian, CPM's managing director, told Reuters on the sidelines of a presentation of the CPM Platinum Group Metals Yearbook 2007 that the price of platinum had a potential to spike higher in 2007.


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Platinum miners dent South African bourse

(Reuters) - Tumbling platinum miners Anglo Platinum and Impala Platinum helped pushed South Africa's blue chip Top-40 index lower on Tuesday as precious metals prices fell.

The Top-40 index of leading blue chip stocks closed 0.58 percent down at 25,989 points while the broader All-share index also ended 0.58 percent lower at 28,746 points. The Top-40 index has gained nine percent so far this year.


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Platinum Falls From Two-Week High as Dollar Strengthens; Palladium Rises

(Bloomberg) -- Platinum fell from a two-week high in
New York as a stronger U.S. dollar reduced the metal's appeal as
a hedge against inflation. Palladium gained.

The dollar rose against the euro and traded near a four-year
high versus the yen earlier today on speculation that a report on
U.S. manufacturing will show economic growth is picking up from
the slowest pace in four years. The metal, which is mostly traded
in the dollar, generally moves in the opposite direction of the
U.S. currency.


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Anglo Platinum Shuts Down Biggest Mine for Week After 12 Workers Killed

(Bloomberg) -- Anglo Platinum Ltd., the world's
largest platinum producer, will halt production from its biggest
mine for as long as seven days to improve safety after 12 miners
were killed in 2007.

Five workers were killed at its Rustenburg mine in the past
two weeks, the Johannesburg-based company said today in a
statement. Production will drop by between 10,000 and 15,000
ounces this year as a result of the closure, it added.


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Shares in Eland Platinum Plunge on Report That Takeover Bids Were Dropped

(Bloomberg) -- Shares of Eland Platinum Holdings
Ltd., South Africa's best performing stock over the last year,
fell as much as 26 percent after a report that potential bidders
may have decided against making a takeover offer.

Xstrata Plc and BHP Billiton Ltd. were both willing to
offer around 70 rand ($9.70) for Eland, Johannesburg-based Web
site Moneyweb said, citing people familiar with the situation.
Eland rose to a record 124.90 rand on June 4, almost two months
after saying it was in talks that may affect its shares.


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Platinum Advances in London, Erasing an Earlier Decline; Palladium Gains

(Bloomberg) -- Platinum rose in London, erasing an
earlier decline, on speculation demand from automobile companies
will more than make up for any drop in jewelry usage.

Platinum use in jewelry has fallen every year since 2002 as
increased demand from automakers drove prices higher, according
to London-based researcher GFMS Ltd. Automobile demand for
catalysts that use platinum has climbed because of tightening
emissions regulations in North America, Europe and Asia.


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Platinum Futures Little Changed in Tokyo Amid Signs of Industrial Demand

(Bloomberg) -- Platinum futures were little changed
in Tokyo after gaining earlier in the day on expectations
European jewelry demand and industrial purchases of the metal
will prompt some traders to buy out of bets on a decline.

Traders on the Tokyo Commodity Exchange last week took on
more futures contracts even as some were selling the metal
itself, a sign they're taking short positions, which bet on the
metal's decline, said John Reade, an analyst at UBS AG, in a
June 1 note to clients.


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Platinum Rises for First Time in Five Sessions in London; Palladium Drops

(Bloomberg) -- Platinum rose for the first time in five
sessions in London as industrial buyers deemed that a drop to the
lowest in eight weeks yesterday was exaggerated. Palladium fell.

Platinum, used in jewelry and car exhaust systems, fell to
$1,253.75 an ounce yesterday, the lowest since April 10, partly
on fading prospects for investment demand to soak up increased
supplies of the metal. Prices have dropped 3.1 percent since
securities backed by platinum were introduced on April 24 on the
London Stock Exchange followed by the SWX Swiss Exchange. The
metal rose to a record $1,402.50 an ounce in November on
speculation the so-called ETFs would put a squeeze on supply.


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Platinum Falls in London as Dollar Gains May Slow Demand; Palladium Drops

(Bloomberg) -- Platinum fell in London on speculation
that declines in the euro against the dollar may curb demand from
European manufacturers for the dollar-denominated metal.
Palladium also dropped.

Europe was the fastest-growing market for platinum last
year, paced by a 10 percent increase in demand from manufacturers
of car catalysts to reduce pollution, a report last week by
London-based manufacturer Johnson Matthey Plc showed. The euro
fell 0.2 percent against the dollar today, adding to its 1.5
percent decline this month.


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Platinum Drops on Speculation Investor Demand Will Slow; Palladium Falls

(Bloomberg) -- Platinum fell for a second day on
speculation that investor demand will slow as historical charts
signal a one-week drop will accelerate.

Platinum dropped 0.8 percent last week, the first decline
in three weeks after auto catalyst manufacturer Johnson Matthey
Plc said a surplus in the metal may grow in 2007. A close below
$1,300 an ounce will mean that platinum has ``broken short-term
support,'' said Beat Grunder, a Credit Suisse analyst.


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Platinum Falls in New York on Stronger Dollar; Palladium Gains on Jewelery

(Bloomberg) -- Platinum fell in New York as the
dollar gained against the euro and the yen, reducing the appeal
of precious metals as an alternative asset. Palladium rose.

The U.S. currency rose to a three-month high versus the yen
and strengthened against the euro. The dollar has gained for
three straight weeks against the euro, the longest rally since
October. Platinum has increased 15 percent this year, partly on
speculation of rising investor demand.


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