MARKET AND PRICES.
REFINED METALS.
The
market price of platinum, which in January was around $154 an ounce,
was not strong during 1920 and declined to $80-$85 an ounce the last
week in July. A slight revival was noted in August, due apparently to
buying by jewelers, which resulted in prices rising to $115-$120 the
first of September, but by the end of September prices began to fall
and the last of December they reached $75 an ounce.
Palladium
was quoted at $135 an ounce at the first of the year but declined to
$75-$80 an ounce in July. There was a slight revival of the market,
following that of platinum, and the price reached a peak of $100-$110
the first of October. After that the price declined to $75 at the end
of the year.
Iridium
was quoted at more than $300 an ounce throughout the year—during the
period between September and December at $350-$400 and during the
second half of October at $400-$450 an ounce.
The
10 per cent iridio-platinum alloy used by jewelers was selling at
$180-1185 an ounce in January, 1920, but by June had declined to
$115—$118 an ounce. There was an increase during August and September,
when the highest price recorded was $167 an ounce. By the end of the
year the price had declined to $125 an ounce.
