NEW YORK: Palladium soared to a record high on Tuesday on worries over short supplies of the metal used in emissions controlling devices in automobiles, while gold fell 1% after US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said interest rates may need to rise.
Spot palladium rose 0.2% to $2,976.90 per ounce by 1:45 p.m. EDT (1745 GMT), after hitting an all-time high of $3,017.18.
“There are stricter pollution controls globally that we’ve not seen in the past, which means vehicles that were not previously required to use auto-catalysts will now have to, and hence more demand,” said Bart Melek, head of commodity strategies at TD Securities. “For the foreseeable future, the market will be in physical deficit and prices will go higher,” he added.
Concerns about supply shortages were exacerbated after top producer Nornickel announced disruptions at two mines due to flooding.
Spot gold fell over 1% after Yellen said US interest rates may need to rise to prevent the economy from overheating as more support programs come on line.
Gold was last down 0.9% to $1,776.73 per ounce. US gold futures settled down 0.9% at $1,776.
Higher interest rates increase the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding bullion.
“Gold failing for the fourth time in two weeks ahead of $1,800, which has been the top of the range, triggered some profit taking before it dove $20 on Yellen’s unexpected comment,” said Tai Wong, head of metals derivatives trading at BMO.
Silver fell 1.8% to $26.40 per ounce, after hitting its highest since Feb. 26, while platinum eased 0.2% to $1,227.73.
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