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 Futures Fall Daily Limit in Tokyo on Rising Yen, Demand Concern

(Bloomberg) -- Platinum futures in Tokyo declined
by the daily limit to a two-month low as a rising yen against
the dollar reduced the value of yen-denominated futures, and
amid concern that platinum usage in autocatalysts may decline.

The yen rose to the highest in more than three months
versus the dollar on July 27 as a fall in stocks caused traders
to repay Japanese currency loans used to fund high-yielding
investments.


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Platinum, Palladium Decline as New Catalyst From Nissan Reduces Metal Use

(Bloomberg) -- Platinum and palladium fell in London
after Nissan Motor Co. announced new technology that may slash
demand for the metals used in catalytic-converters.

Nissan developed a gasoline-powered catalyst that uses half
the platinum, palladium and rhodium in existing technology, the
company said in a statement today. Platinum usage in catalytic
converters rose 11 percent last year to a record, London-based
catalyst producer Johnson Matthey Plc said in May.


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Northam Platinum sees FY headline EPS up 80-93 pct

(Reuters) - South Africa's Northam Platinum expects its headline earnings per share for the year just ended to have risen by up to 93 percent due to high metals prices, the firm said on Monday.

The company said in a trading update that it expected headline EPS for the year to end June to have increased to between 540-580 cents from the 300.9 cents made the previous year.


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Platinum Futures in Tokyo Little Changed Near Record High on Wage Talks

(Bloomberg) -- Platinum futures in Tokyo were little
changed after South Africa's National Union of Mineworkers said
Anglo Platinum Ltd. will probably improve its pay offer.

Anglo, the world's biggest producer of the metal, and the
union have been in wage talks since May, raising concern a strike
may cut supply or a pay increase would push up mining costs. The
company will revise its offer to increase pay by as much as 10
percent on July 26, NUM negotiator Oupa Komane said on July 20.


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Platinum Rises as Lonmin Delay Erodes Surplus; Palladium Price Advances

(Bloomberg) -- Platinum rose in London after Lonmin
Plc, the world's third-biggest platinum company, said it would
delay sales of some of its metal at a time when global supply was
barely keeping pace with demand.

The sale of between 70,000 and 90,000 ounces of platinum
from inventories will be postponed until after September, London-
based Lonmin said in a statement today. The sales were expected
to help platinum supplies exceed demand in the second half of
2007 from a deficit in the first half, London-based platinum
marketer Johnson Matthey Plc said in May.


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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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Platinum Futures Fall in New York as Strike Threats Ease; Palladium Drops

(Bloomberg) -- Platinum fell the most in three
months in New York as concerns decreased about potential strikes
at mines in South Africa, which produces about 80 percent of the
metal. Palladium also declined.

Platinum rose 1.7 percent this month before today after
companies including Anglo Platinum Ltd., the biggest producer,
Impala Platinum Holdings Ltd. and Northam Platinum Holdings Ltd.
started wage talks with workers last month. Unions say near-
record prices for the metal should allow companies to boost wages
beyond inflation, currently at 6.3 percent.


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Gold drifts higher, investors watch credit market

(Reuters) - A weaker dollar lifted gold prices on Friday, but investors kept an eye on credit market conditions that may make investors more averse to risk-taking.

Platinum group metals (PGMs) were supported by the risk of supply disruptions in South Africa.


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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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Platinum Gains in Tokyo as Dollar Trades Near Four-Year High Against Yen

(Bloomberg) -- Platinum futures in Tokyo rose as the
dollar held near a more than four-year high against the yen,
boosting the value of yen-denominated contracts for platinum,
which is traded globally in the U.S. currency.

The dollar traded at 123.50 yen as of 12:13 p.m. in Tokyo,
compared with the 123.67 yen touched on June 15, the highest
since Dec. 12, 2002. Gains in gold futures traded in Tokyo also
drew investors to precious metals, including platinum, Kazuhiko
Saito, a strategist at Interes Capital Management, said today.


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Eland Platinum Asks JSE to Investigate After Shares Plunged This Week

(Bloomberg) -- Eland Platinum Holdings Ltd., whose
stock plunged 20 percent this week on speculation that potential
bidders pulled out of takeover talks, asked the Johannesburg
stock exchange to investigate volatility in its shares.

The company is still in talks that may affect its shares,
Johannesburg-based Eland said in an e-mailed statement today.
Articles published recently on Mineweb.com contain ``material
inaccuracies'' about Eland, it added.


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