When investing in precious metals, you may be thinking about gold. But there are others, like silver, platinum, and palladium.
Each one has different risks and rewards, and you can get them from mining company stocks and the derivatives market.
So, are the values of these metals guaranteed? Or are they best suited for investors who have a small budget? Keep reading to find out!
Iridium
Iridium is one of the rarest elements in the earth’s crust. It was discovered in 1803 and named after the Greek goddess Iris. It has the highest melting point of any metal, is the second-most dense metal, and is resistant to corrosion.
The high melting point of iridium makes it a sought-after precious metal, but there are two ways to get it. The first method is a byproduct of mining nickel, which is found in the same layer of earth.
Another method involves mining platinum ore, which tends to contain iridium. While iridium is not traded on exchanges, the price of iridium is guaranteed. Industrial use of metal is the main driver of the high price.
It is not traded on exchanges, and retail buyers have only a few dealers. Major investors go straight to the producers to purchase iridium. Iridium is used in spark plugs and is therefore worth three times as much as gold.
Lithium
If you have been thinking about investing in precious metals, lithium is a safe choice. Lithium has a limited supply and its price is likely to rise for the next half-century.
In other words, the more there is, the higher the value. That is the law of supply. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t make a loss investing in lithium. The following are some things to consider.
Although current reserves are ample, some experts believe that metal shortages are possible, especially in areas where production is limited or controlled by one country. This is true for lithium, which is located in Bolivia and Afghanistan.
Lithium mines in those countries are the largest known reserves in the world. However, if lithium production stalls in the conflict-torn country, it could have a dramatic impact on the value of the precious metals.
Rhodium
The demand for rhodium is projected to grow at a healthy pace. The metal’s price has topped out earlier this year, and many investors emptied their ETFs when the value hit its high point.
According to Johnson Matthey, a major PGM consumer, there are now only about 14,000 ounces of rhodium remaining in ETFs.
This suggests that rhodium’s demand will grow significantly through 2021, despite the fact that the automotive industry is not expected to stop growing.
Rhodium’s value is guaranteed because it is used in catalytic converters, which clean exhaust emissions.
Catalytic converters use rhodium to break down nitrous oxide molecules, which are brownish, corrosive gas released by fossil-fuel-powered engines, power plants, and boats.
These gases are incredibly dangerous and can cause irreparable damage to human health.
Platinum
The low prices of platinum put major miners at risk. South Africa, the world’s biggest producer, has seen its output drop by 25% in the last decade, and the world’s stockpiles have shrunk after five years of deficit.
Demand has exceeded supply, and current mining output levels are not sustainable at current prices. A bearish consensus is expected to cap the price of platinum in 2019.
Physical platinum has been a difficult commodity to trade efficiently. The price of platinum is lower than palladium, a more recent investment opportunity.
Platinum is used for automotive catalysts, and it competes with gold in demand for jewelry. However, this precious metal is only produced in a few countries and is more dependent on supply and demand.
The price of platinum is likely to remain low for an additional 18 months. Platinum’s discount on palladium may continue for the rest of the year, or even longer, depending on its use.
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