Live Platinum Spot Prices

Just like gold, silver, and palladium, platinum appears on the periodic table of elements with its symbol Pt and atomic number 78. The first recorded reference to platinum was in 1557 when it was described as “unmeltable” and called “platina,” meaning “little silver.” Even before this reference, people in ancient Egypt and the Americas would use a mix of platinum and gold for jewelry and other decorative pieces. Today, platinum investing offers a unique option within the precious metals marketplace as platinum bullion ingots and coins are often recommended as an integral part of portfolio diversification.

Commercial applications for platinum span multiple industries. One of the largest consumers of platinum is the automobile industry. Platinum’s ability to withstand high temperatures makes it a great asset for manufacturing catalytic converters. Aside from the automotive industry, the medical industry has a high demand for platinum for a variety of reasons. In addition to being a great metal for manufacturing medical equipment, platinum is also used in many anti-cancer drugs. According to a 2014 study conducted by Johnstone, Park, and Lippard, half of all cancer therapy patients currently use drugs which contain platinum. Apart from these two main sources of demand, platinum can also be found in more typical commercial applications for precious metals such as machine parts, tools, and jewelry.

Platinum is a widely-used although extremely rare metal and its relative scarcity in the face of ever-increasing demand gives platinum bullion bars and platinum coins incredible investment potential. Its historical price performance makes platinum a provocative and attractive investment vehicle.

Although platinum and silver act primarily as industrial metals, they both experience price fluctuations for very different reasons. Understanding those reasons is vital to determining which precious metal could best suit your portfolio. Monex believes that individual investor needs must always be considered first before making an investment. Call a knowledgeable Monex account representative now and learn about these reasons and more to help you on your precious metals investing journey.

Platinum prices are no different than other precious metals prices as they tend to react to civil disputes, geopolitical issues, and overall demand. However, because approximately 80% of all platinum is mined in South Africa, this also becomes a factor in determining current prices. Issues such as electricity available for the mines can greatly impact the price. The huge demand from the automotive industry means that auto manufacturers switching between platinum and palladium can also cause large price swings over long periods of time.

Below are some of the most dramatic price increases that platinum prices have seen in the past years.

• 119% gain from October 2006 to March 2008
  $1053 per oz to $2308 per oz
• 133% gain from October 2008 to April 2010
  $752 per oz to $1759 per oz
• 32% gain from May 2010 to August 2011
  $1446 per oz to $1918 per oz
• 29% gain from December 2011 to February 2012
  $1347 per oz to $1739 per oz
• 26% gain from July 2012 to February 2013
  $1378 per oz to $1744 per oz
• 20% gain from June 2013 to August 2013
  $1295 per oz to $1558 per oz
• 16% gain from December 2013 to July 2014
  $1311 per oz to $1523 per oz
• 47% gain from January 2016 to August 2016
  $811 per oz to $1199 per oz
• 21% gain from August 2018 to April 2019
  $755 per oz to $920 per oz

For more information about our high quality platinum bullion products and the process of investing with Monex, contact one of our knowledgeable Account Representatives at 800-444-8317.