Platinum Pauses Below $1,540 After 14-Year High

Platinum futures traded above $2,000 an ounce, near a three-week high as investors weighed the durability of the Middle East ceasefire. The agreement, tied to a 10-point proposal and contingent on reopening the Strait of Hormuz, initially weakened the dollar and lifted sentiment across the metals complex, with expectations that reduced energy disruption risks could ease inflation pressures and support demand for non-yielding assets like platinum. However, sentiment turned cautious amid reports suggesting the 10-point framework lacks full commitment from both sides, leaving the deal fragile and incomplete. Meanwhile, softer industrial demand and improved supply conditions continued to weigh on prices. Automotive demand, the largest industrial use for platinum, is set to decline further as the shift to electric vehicles reduces the need for catalytic converters, while higher recycling flows, particularly in Europe, are expected to narrow the market deficit.

Platinum futures held below $2000 an ounce, trading in a tight range near three-month lows as markets monitored developments in the Middle East war. In the latest update, US President Trump warned that he could target Iranian civilian infrastructure, including power plants and bridges, unless Tehran meets his demands and reopens the Strait of Hormuz by 8pm Eastern Time deadline, overshadowing tentative signs of progress in mediated ceasefire talks. The standoff has kept energy markets volatile, with disruptions to global oil flows fueling inflation concerns and clouding the monetary policy outlook, which in turn weighed on non-yielding assets. Platinum was also pressured by profit-taking after a strong rally in late 2025 and early 2026, alongside softer automotive demand and expectations of improving supply. Structural shifts toward electric vehicles are reducing catalytic converter demand, while higher recycling flows, particularly in Europe, are expected to narrow the market deficit.

Platinum futures fell to around $1,900 an ounce, easing from a two-week high amid a broader retreat across precious metals. The decline came as the US dollar firmed after President Trump gave no clear timeline for ending the Middle East conflict. In his speech, Trump said Washington’s core strategic objectives in Iran were nearing completion but warned that military operations could continue with intensified strikes over the next two to three weeks. Oil prices also resumed their advance, adding to inflation concerns and reinforcing expectations of tighter monetary police across major central banks. Platinum was further weighed by profit-taking after a strong rally in late 2025 and early 2026, alongside weakening automotive demand and expectations of rising supply. The ongoing shift toward electric vehicles is reducing demand from catalytic converters, while increased recycling, particularly in Europe, is expected to narrow the market deficit despite it still remaining in shortfall.