Rhodium

South African platinum group metal production was down 2.7 percent for the three months ended November 2011 compared with the three months ended August 2011.

Zimbabwean platinum producer Zimplats has been accused of underpaying royalties by the Zimbabwe revenue authority and is now locked in a legal battle to fend off a $28 million claim for outstanding payments.

Hard Assets Investor reports precious metals ETFs enjoyed solid $5.9 billion inflows last year that brought total assets in the sector to just under $98.5 billion; a figure that represents just under two-thirds of all exchange-traded products including energy and agriculture.

Solitario Exploration & Royalty (TSE:SLR) said today that its drilling results at its Bongará zinc joint venture project in Peru were "outstanding".

Eastern Platinum Limited (the “Company” or “Eastplats”) is pleased to report that further to its press release of February 1, 2011 announcing the receipt of letters of commitment for a debt facility

Most commodities, except for the heavyweights gold and oil, are poised for a down year in 2011, the first fall for this sector since the financial crisis hit in 2008.

Lonmin joined AngloPlat and Implats, this week signing a far-reaching two year wage pact ensuring a steady supply from Southern Africa where 75% of platinum is produced. The price of platinum has crashed from $1,915/oz in August as PGMs come under pressure due to sagging demand from the automobile sector which is slashing use of the precious metals to cut costs. And miners reducing supply to up prices is unlikely say analysts.

North American stock exchanges are on a tear today after central banks made more funds available to lenders, giving investors hope for a way out of the European debt debacle. The markets were also cheered by better than expected private sector job growth in the United States. The mining-heavy S&P/TSX Composite was up 2.5% to just over 12,000 at time of writing. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 384 points, or 3.3%, the most on a closing basis since Aug. 11, according to Bloomberg. Spot gold was up $32 from yesterday to $1747 which is just above the 20-day moving average of $1744, noted Kitco. Silver was up marginally to $32.86 from yesterday's $31.92, while benchmark copper was up more than 5% to a two-week high of $7,885/tonne. Zinc, lead, aluminum and nickel were also up from Tuesday.