Explore Special Offers & White Papers from AFS

Palladium Prices Expected to Lag

PLATINUM / PALLADIUM

Given the initial failure and sharp recovery in platinum futures yesterday, and evidence of net buying of platinum ETF instruments from yesterday there is fundamental and technical underpin for platinum prices above this week’s low of $1,057.50. Furthermore, the bull camp should be emboldened by another inflow to platinum ETF holdings of 1895 ounces yesterday which brings the year-to-date gain up to 9.7%. As of yesterday’s close, the platinum market remained $406 discount to palladium prices! On the opposite side of the argument the palladium market remains at a premium to platinum of $406 and the trade is in the process of factoring a loss of palladium demand to substitution. However, palladium ETF holdings yesterday saw a single day inflow to holdings of 3,591 ounces resulting in a single day expansion of total holdings of 0.7%. Nonetheless, we expect palladium prices to lag PGM market rallies and for palladium prices to lead PGM market declines.

palladium bars

GOLD / SILVER

With a minimal higher high for the move in the dollar overnight, combined with residual hope of ongoing US debt ceiling negotiations, the bear camp in gold has the initial edge. Apparently, the gold trade sees an ultimate solution to the US debt ceiling battle with the odds favoring an increase in the debt ceiling and little if any work on the deficit. Furthermore, gold ETF holdings yesterday declined again this time by 68,837 ounces leaving the year-to-date gain at only 0.2%. With the gold market negatively diverging with silver, platinum, and copper prices yesterday, it appears that strength in the dollar has the full attention of the gold trade. Adding to the negative fundamental bias are signals from some Fed members who patently discounted the potential for Fed rate cuts later this year. In short, the path of least resistance is down in gold. Like the gold market, the silver market freshly damaged its charts again overnight and the fundamental track also favors the bear camp. However, silver should see less spillover selling pressure from dollar gains and should garner a minimal benefit from a modest silver ETF inflow yesterday.

COPPER

Given the surprise and potentially overdone rally in copper yesterday, slightly negative global economic sentiment and another significant daily inflow to LME copper warehouse stocks, the bear camp has regained control of the copper trade. However, the copper market appeared to benefit from bargain-hunting buying, providing a measure of value in the July contract around the $3.66 level. In fact, Bloomberg overnight has indicated cheap prices earlier in the week appears to have sparked some “stockpiling” of copper from the spot market in China! A potential negative Chinese demand signal overnight came from a 3.5% decline in output of copper rods in the month of April which is the first monthly decline this year. However, with July copper from the last COT positioning report declining $0.25 into the low yesterday the market has likely expanded its net spec and fund short significantly and that could mean short profit-taking combined with bargain-hunting buying around yesterday’s lows. On the other hand, it should be noted that before the aggressive recovery yesterday, July copper posted a 5-month low and extended a lower low and lower high pattern on the charts!

 

Interested in more futures markets?  Explore our Market Dashboards here.

Futures and options trading involve significant risk of loss and may not be suitable for everyone.  Therefore, carefully consider whether such trading is suitable for you in light of your financial condition.  The information and comments contained herein is provided by ADMIS and in no way should be construed to be information provided by ADM.  The author of this report did not have a financial interest in any of the contracts discussed in this report at the time the report was prepared.  The information provided is designed to assist in your analysis and evaluation of the futures and options markets.  However, any decisions you may make to buy, sell or hold a futures or options position on such research are entirely your own and not in any way deemed to be endorsed by or attributed to ADMIS. Copyright ADM Investor Services, Inc.

Latest News & Market Commentary

Explore Special Offers & White Papers from Archer Financial Services

Get Started

Contact Us Today