what’s the impact of a weaker dollar on platinum?

A weaker U.S. dollar tends to have a notable impact on platinum prices, often pushing them higher. This happens because platinum, like other precious metals, is priced in dollars globally. When the dollar loses value against other currencies, it takes more dollars to buy the same amount of platinum, making the metal relatively cheaper for holders of other currencies and thus boosting demand.

Recently, platinum has experienced a strong price surge partly due to a weakening dollar. As the dollar declined by over 8% in 2025 so far, investors and industrial users found platinum more attractive both as an investment and for practical use. This increased demand helped push platinum prices up significantly within just a few weeks.

The industrial importance of platinum also plays into this dynamic. Platinum is widely used in automotive catalytic converters and various industrial applications. With renewed appetite from major consumers like China—both for industry and jewelry—the demand side strengthens further when the dollar weakens because buyers outside the U.S. can purchase more at lower relative costs.

Additionally, investor interest rises as a weaker dollar often signals economic uncertainty or inflationary pressures that make precious metals appealing hedges against currency risk. This has led to increased inflows into exchange-traded funds (ETFs) holding silver and platinum as alternatives to gold amid concerns about gold’s valuation levels.

On technical grounds too, platinum’s price trend has been upward since early 2025 with key moving averages supporting this rise; resistance levels are being tested around $1,450 per ounce while support remains solid above $1,200 per ounce.

In summary (without summarizing), when the U.S. dollar weakens:

– Platinum becomes cheaper for foreign buyers.
– Demand from both investors seeking safe havens and industries using it increases.
– Prices tend to rise sharply due to these combined factors.
– Market sentiment shifts favorably toward precious metals beyond just gold.

This relationship between a softer dollar and rising platinum prices reflects how currency movements influence global commodity markets through changes in purchasing power and investor behavior alike.