Issue 3/2017 - Heraeus publishes its 2017 Precious Metals Forecast

Heraeus' Precious Metals Forecast 2017 follows the publication of its 2017 Precious Metals Forecast
by Heraeus
' Metals Management Global Business Unit.
Heraeus metal management experts analyzed that at the beginning of 2017, the gold market was weak due to the strong US dollar, and the Fed's interest rate hike expectations will also promote the US dollar to continue to strengthen
.
Affected by the French and German elections, coupled with the uncertainty of the policies of newly elected US President Donald Trump, gold prices may be volatile
during the year.
The growth of global market demand for investment products such as silver bars, silver coins, and jewelry has driven silver prices higher; Industrial demand in areas such as photovoltaics will also provide support
for silver prices.
The Volkswagen emissions scandal and controversy over the outlook for internal combustion engines could shape platinum prices this
year.
In Europe, the market share of diesel vehicles has fallen to less than 50%.

Sales in the jewelry industry, the second largest demand area for platinum, also declined
significantly.
The growing demand for gasoline engine catalysts in China and the United States is the main driver for the continuation of palladium's upward trend (see Table 1 for details).

Table 1 Precious metal price fluctuation range USD/oz
precious metals Fluctuation range
gold 1060~1300
silver 15~23
platinum 820~1050palladium 585~850rhodium 700~950ruthenium 30~45
iridium 625~800