The spot price of platinum on Wednesday climbed to an all-time high of $1 060,50 an ounce on fund-buying of the metal, analysts said. Fund interest was largely based on platinum’s more constructive fundamentals, relatively low inventories and the strong upward momentum, analysts said.

The supply-side response by the mining and resources industry to continued strong global demand for raw materials remains constrained by a shortage of people, equipment and supplies, BHP Billiton says. It also reported record half-year production of aluminium, copper, nickel and liquefied natural gas.

The spot price of gold on Friday afternoon climbed to $567 a troy ounce, its highest level since January 1981, on strong buying of the precious metal. The spot price of rhodium climbed to a 14-and-half-year high of $3 140 a troy ounce on Friday on the back of strength in the rest of the precious-metals complex.

The JSE on Friday climbed to a fresh all-time high on positive sentiment from the previous day’s trade as well as higher metals prices and international equity markets. By 12.15pm, the all-share index added 0,89% and the all-share industrial gained 0,75%. Financials climbed 0,59% and resources climbed 1,21%.

The JSE was heading for its fifth consecutive weaker close on Wednesday, with the bourse dragged to a three-week low by profit-taking and sharply lower international markets, equity traders said. By 11.46am, the all-share index was down 1,28% and the all-share industrial lost 1,51%.

The spot price of platinum on Monday equalled its all-time high of $1 047 an ounce set in March 1980, on Tokyo Commodity Exchange buying of the metal as well as the strong rand, which broke below R6 to the dollar, analysts said. At 12.55pm, platinum was quoted at $1 042/oz, up $6,50/oz from its previous close.

World number-four gold miner Gold Fields on Thursday received sufficient backing from the security holders of Toronto-listed Bolivar Gold to take control of the company, Gold Fields spokesperson Willie Jacobsz said. Bolivar shareholders holding 76% of the company’s shares voted in favour of Gold Fields’ offer.

The gold bull trend experienced last year is expected to remain intact throughout 2006, with the metal forecast to average $544 a troy ounce and to trade in a range between $490/oz and $620/oz in 2006, Switzerland-based MKS Finance senior vice-president Frederic Panizzutti said on Friday.

The spot price of gold was quoted marginally lower on Tuesday, after breaking above $550 a troy ounce for the first time since January 1981 on Monday evening. Fund buying on Tuesday morning took the spot price of platinum to $1 018 an ounce, which was the metal’s highest level since March 1980.