Platinum trading at its lowest since February

The rand is steady this morning. The stronger greenback weighed on precious metal prices. Platinum is trading at is lowest level since February. Currencies are likely to play a key role on local financial markets today. This comes as the US dollar bounced back following a further drop in oil prices and improved confidence in the American financial sector. On the capital market, the yield on the R153 government bond ended yesterday at 10.79%. US and European markets US stocks rose yesterday as financial shares climbed on optimism about a rescue plan for mortgage finance companies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and as the price of oil fell. Financial shares rose after President George W. Bush dropped a threat to veto a housing rescue bill, clearing the way for measures aimed at stabilising the battered housing market, which has... [read full story]